used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading DIRK ENTERTAINS The Sunday after Christmas found Mr. Cortlandt kept in the house by a cold.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading DIRK ENTERTAINS The Sunday after Christmas found Mr. Cortlandt kept in the house by a cold.
alluringadjectiveUS /əˈlʊrɪŋ/
highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
From this reading The logs burned cheerily, snapping and crackling; the red flames and impish sparks looked most alluring on this cold night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Beth sought him out in the evening and found him beside his library fire.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Beth sought him out in the evening and found him beside his library fire.
BethnounUS /beθ/
the 2nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet
From this reading Beth sought him out in the evening and found him beside his library fire.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading The logs burned cheerily, snapping and crackling; the red flames and impish sparks looked most alluring on this cold night.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading DIRK ENTERTAINS The Sunday after Christmas found Mr. Cortlandt kept in the house by a cold.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
cheerilyadverb
in a cheerful manner
From this reading The logs burned cheerily, snapping and crackling; the red flames and impish sparks looked most alluring on this cold night.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading DIRK ENTERTAINS The Sunday after Christmas found Mr. Cortlandt kept in the house by a cold.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading DIRK ENTERTAINS The Sunday after Christmas found Mr. Cortlandt kept in the house by a cold.
Cortlandt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DIRK ENTERTAINS The Sunday after Christmas found Mr. Cortlandt kept in the house by a cold.
cracklingnounUS /ˈkræklɪŋ/
the residue that remains after animal fat has been rendered
From this reading The logs burned cheerily, snapping and crackling; the red flames and impish sparks looked most alluring on this cold night.
DIRKnounUS /dɜːrk/
a relatively long dagger with a straight blade
From this reading DIRK ENTERTAINS The Sunday after Christmas found Mr. Cortlandt kept in the house by a cold.
ENTERTAINSverbUS /ˌentərˈteɪnz/
third-person singular of “entertain” — provide entertainment for
From this reading DIRK ENTERTAINS The Sunday after Christmas found Mr. Cortlandt kept in the house by a cold.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Beth sought him out in the evening and found him beside his library fire.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Beth sought him out in the evening and found him beside his library fire.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading The logs burned cheerily, snapping and crackling; the red flames and impish sparks looked most alluring on this cold night.
footfallnounUS /ˈfʊtfɔːl/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
set up or found
From this reading DIRK ENTERTAINS The Sunday after Christmas found Mr. Cortlandt kept in the house by a cold.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Beth sought him out in the evening and found him beside his library fire.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Beth sought him out in the evening and found him beside his library fire.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading DIRK ENTERTAINS The Sunday after Christmas found Mr. Cortlandt kept in the house by a cold.
impishadjectiveUS /ˈɪmpɪʃ/
naughtily or annoyingly playful
From this reading The logs burned cheerily, snapping and crackling; the red flames and impish sparks looked most alluring on this cold night.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DIRK ENTERTAINS The Sunday after Christmas found Mr. Cortlandt kept in the house by a cold.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Uncle Jim,” she said, pausing.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading DIRK ENTERTAINS The Sunday after Christmas found Mr. Cortlandt kept in the house by a cold.
a room where books are kept
From this reading Beth sought him out in the evening and found him beside his library fire.
logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading The logs burned cheerily, snapping and crackling; the red flames and impish sparks looked most alluring on this cold night.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The logs burned cheerily, snapping and crackling; the red flames and impish sparks looked most alluring on this cold night.
miniaturenounUS /ˈmɪniətʃʊr/
painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The logs burned cheerily, snapping and crackling; the red flames and impish sparks looked most alluring on this cold night.
a form of address for a man
From this reading DIRK ENTERTAINS The Sunday after Christmas found Mr. Cortlandt kept in the house by a cold.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The logs burned cheerily, snapping and crackling; the red flames and impish sparks looked most alluring on this cold night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The logs burned cheerily, snapping and crackling; the red flames and impish sparks looked most alluring on this cold night.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Beth sought him out in the evening and found him beside his library fire.
pausingverbUS /ˈpɔːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading “Uncle Jim,” she said, pausing.
RebeccanounUS /rəˈbekə/
(Old Testament) wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The logs burned cheerily, snapping and crackling; the red flames and impish sparks looked most alluring on this cold night.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Uncle Jim,” she said, pausing.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
snappingverbUS /ˈsnæpɪŋ/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading The logs burned cheerily, snapping and crackling; the red flames and impish sparks looked most alluring on this cold night.
that is looked for
From this reading Beth sought him out in the evening and found him beside his library fire.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
sparksnounUS /spɑːrks/
plural of “spark” — a momentary flash of light
From this reading The logs burned cheerily, snapping and crackling; the red flames and impish sparks looked most alluring on this cold night.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading DIRK ENTERTAINS The Sunday after Christmas found Mr. Cortlandt kept in the house by a cold.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DIRK ENTERTAINS The Sunday after Christmas found Mr. Cortlandt kept in the house by a cold.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The logs burned cheerily, snapping and crackling; the red flames and impish sparks looked most alluring on this cold night.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading “Uncle Jim,” she said, pausing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Beth came across the thick carpet without a sound of a footfall; in her hand she carried the miniature which Aunt Rebecca had sent her at Christmas.
