used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now and again the steam pounded in a low radiator below a window.
anew
From this reading Now and again the steam pounded in a low radiator below a window.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At last an old man who had been fingering the brim of his hat spoke in a hoarse whisper.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last an old man who had been fingering the brim of his hat spoke in a hoarse whisper.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading At last an old man who had been fingering the brim of his hat spoke in a hoarse whisper.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Now and again the steam pounded in a low radiator below a window.
braggedverbUS /bræɡd/
inflected form of “brag” — show off
From this reading There was a great deal of sniffing, and a hacking cough from a woman who bragged of a "weak chest."
brimnounUS /brɪm/
the top edge of a vessel or other container
From this reading At last an old man who had been fingering the brim of his hat spoke in a hoarse whisper.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading There was a great deal of sniffing, and a hacking cough from a woman who bragged of a "weak chest."
clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/
a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
coughverbUS /kɑːf/
exhale abruptly, as when one has a chest cold or congestion
From this reading There was a great deal of sniffing, and a hacking cough from a woman who bragged of a "weak chest."
DampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading There was a great deal of sniffing, and a hacking cough from a woman who bragged of a "weak chest."
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
fingeringnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərɪŋ/
the placement of the fingers for playing different notes (or sequences of notes) on a musical instrument
From this reading At last an old man who had been fingering the brim of his hat spoke in a hoarse whisper.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There was a great deal of sniffing, and a hacking cough from a woman who bragged of a "weak chest."
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There was a great deal of sniffing, and a hacking cough from a woman who bragged of a "weak chest."
hackingverbUS /ˈhækɪŋ/
-ing form of “hack” — cut with a hacking tool
From this reading There was a great deal of sniffing, and a hacking cough from a woman who bragged of a "weak chest."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading At last an old man who had been fingering the brim of his hat spoke in a hoarse whisper.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At last an old man who had been fingering the brim of his hat spoke in a hoarse whisper.
hoarseadjectiveUS /hɔːrs/
deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion
From this reading At last an old man who had been fingering the brim of his hat spoke in a hoarse whisper.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
and nothing more
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
immediately past
From this reading At last an old man who had been fingering the brim of his hat spoke in a hoarse whisper.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Now and again the steam pounded in a low radiator below a window.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading At last an old man who had been fingering the brim of his hat spoke in a hoarse whisper.
used to form the superlative
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now and again the steam pounded in a low radiator below a window.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading At last an old man who had been fingering the brim of his hat spoke in a hoarse whisper.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
poundedverbUS /ˈpaʊndɪd/
past form of “pound” — hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument
From this reading Now and again the steam pounded in a low radiator below a window.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
radiatornounUS /ˈreɪdieɪtər/
any object that radiates energy
From this reading Now and again the steam pounded in a low radiator below a window.
rectorynounUS /ˈrektəri/
an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
sniffingverbUS /ˈsnɪfɪŋ/
-ing form of “sniff” — perceive by inhaling through the nose
From this reading There was a great deal of sniffing, and a hacking cough from a woman who bragged of a "weak chest."
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading At last an old man who had been fingering the brim of his hat spoke in a hoarse whisper.
steamverbUS /stiːm/
travel by means of steam power
From this reading Now and again the steam pounded in a low radiator below a window.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a great deal of sniffing, and a hacking cough from a woman who bragged of a "weak chest."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
uneasilyadverbUS /əˈniːzəli/
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading There was a great deal of sniffing, and a hacking cough from a woman who bragged of a "weak chest."
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading At last an old man who had been fingering the brim of his hat spoke in a hoarse whisper.
which person or people
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
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 Now and again the steam pounded in a low radiator below a window.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE MYSTERY The rectory hall was quiet, although it was well filled with people--shabby, the most of them, and sitting uneasily upright in their chairs.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Damp snow clung to the coat of one woman who had just entered, and the smell of dirty and wet clothing was in the air.
