used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
anonadverbUS /ˌæˈnɔːn/
at another time
From this reading Ever and anon she arose, and, going to the window, looked forth.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading Ever and anon she arose, and, going to the window, looked forth.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The next day passed as usual with Constance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
ConstancenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəns/
a lake in southeastern Germany on the northern side of the Swiss Alps; forms part of the Rhine River
From this reading The next day passed as usual with Constance.
CONSTANCE'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW CONSTANCE’S RETREAT WAS DISCOVERED.
controversialadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːntrəˈvɜːrʃəl/
marked by or capable of arousing controversy
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The next day passed as usual with Constance.
represented in words especially with sharpness and detail
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading HOW CONSTANCE’S RETREAT WAS DISCOVERED.
essaying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
at any time
From this reading Ever and anon she arose, and, going to the window, looked forth.
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Ever and anon she arose, and, going to the window, looked forth.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
the act of departing
From this reading Ever and anon she arose, and, going to the window, looked forth.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
HOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW CONSTANCE’S RETREAT WAS DISCOVERED.
illuminatedadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈluːməneɪtəd/
provided with artificial light
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Ever and anon she arose, and, going to the window, looked forth.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next day passed as usual with Constance.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
Osbert's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The next day passed as usual with Constance.
perusingnounUS /pərˈuːzɪŋ/
reading carefully with intent to remember
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading HOW CONSTANCE’S RETREAT WAS DISCOVERED.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
scantily-furnished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
taperverbUS /ˈteɪpər/
diminish gradually
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next day passed as usual with Constance.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
tractsnounUS /trækts/
plural of “tract” — an extended area of land
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The next day passed as usual with Constance.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HOW CONSTANCE’S RETREAT WAS DISCOVERED.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She was seated at a small table, perusing by the light of a single taper, which dimly illuminated the large but scantily-furnished apartment, one of the controversial tracts of the day, and essaying, but in vain, to fix her thoughts on what she read.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Ever and anon she arose, and, going to the window, looked forth.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading At night she was alone in the room, the windows of which have been described as opening upon the garden, and anxiously expecting Osbert’s coming.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The next day passed as usual with Constance.
