used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
the lower side of anything
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
ButlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
a young person of either sex
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
Christina's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
colouringnounUS /ˈkʌlərrɪŋ/
a digestible substance used to give color to food
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
dimly-lighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
dingyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪndʒi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
etc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
opinion or judgment
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
frilledadjective
having decorative ruffles or frills
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
frocknounUS /frɑːk/
a long, loose outer garment
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
Frome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
intense and profound fear
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
immediately past
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
a room where books are kept
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
liningnounUS /ˈlaɪnɪŋ/
a protective covering that protects an inside surface
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
pale-facedadjective
having a pale face
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
patchesnounUS /ˈpætʃəz/
plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
pinaforenoun
a sleeveless dress resembling an apron; worn over other clothing
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
PrintingnounUS /ˈprɪntɪŋ/
text handwritten in the style of printed matter
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
ProbableadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːbəbəl/
likely but not certain to be or become true or real
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
scholarsnounUS /ˈskɑːlərz/
plural of “scholar” — a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
Selwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
shelvesnounUS /ʃelvz/
Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
spectacledadjective
wearing, or having the face adorned with, eyeglasses or an eyeglass
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
stainedadjectiveUS /steɪnd/
marked or dyed or discolored with foreign matter
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
stealingnounUS /ˈstiːlɪŋ/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
TannernounUS /ˈtænər/
a small coin of the United Kingdom worth six pennies; not minted since 1970
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
very small
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
the upper part of anything
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
TrampsnounUS /træmpz/
plural of “tramp” — a vagrant
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
unusedadjectiveUS /əˈnjuːzd/
not yet used or soiled
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was in her father's library: a large dimly-lighted room with books lining the shelves on the walls from top to bottom.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
a Caucasian
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
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 It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading It was a silent, unused room; but it seemed as if it wanted wise spectacled scholars in it, and not a small pale-faced child in a short frock and white frilled pinafore.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Christina's eyes were big with horror as she clasped her tiny hands round her knees, and stared into the fire in front of her.
buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading _Author of "Two Tramps," "Probable Sons," etc._ Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London "AND it might have been me!"
writing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an afternoon in early autumn; the last rays of the setting sun were stealing in through a stained glass window and colouring the dingy writing-table with red and blue patches.
