used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
blendingnounUS /ˈblendɪŋ/
the act of blending components together thoroughly
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
bounceverbUS /baʊns/
spring back; spring away from an impact
From this reading A strange sound fetched him out of it with a bounce.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
the act of burning something
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
comfortablyadverbUS /ˈkʌmfərtəbli/
in mental comfort; without stress
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
conjectured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
having made preparations
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
elbow-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
accept an excuse for
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
fetchedverbUS /fetʃt/
past form of “fetch” — go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading A strange sound fetched him out of it with a bounce.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A strange sound fetched him out of it with a bounce.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
indulgedverbUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒd/
past form of “indulge” — give free rein to
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
leaptverbUS /lept/
inflected form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
a particular point in time
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
napnounUS /næp/
a period of time spent sleeping
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A strange sound fetched him out of it with a bounce.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
rubbingnounUS /ˈrʌbɪŋ/
the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading A strange sound fetched him out of it with a bounce.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading A strange sound fetched him out of it with a bounce.
stupidlyadverbUS /ˈstuːpədli/
in a stupid manner
From this reading He leapt to his feet, and stood for a moment stupidly rubbing his eyes.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading But it may be conjectured that, having disposed himself thus comfortably, he indulged in a nap.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
Unonius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Unonius had drawn the table close beside an elbow-chair to the right of the fireplace.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The excuse he made to himself was that, with a bright fire burning, he could the better see to read by blending its blaze with the light of the lamp.
