used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The women shivering in the darkness about her would fain have struck a light and drawn her back into the room, for they felt safer there.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
on or to one side
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
avertverbUS /əˈvɜːrt/
prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The women shivering in the darkness about her would fain have struck a light and drawn her back into the room, for they felt safer there.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But she was not to be moved.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading But Mademoiselle would not have candles brought.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Mademoiselle would not have candles brought.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
candlesnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading But Mademoiselle would not have candles brought.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The women shivering in the darkness about her would fain have struck a light and drawn her back into the room, for they felt safer there.
fainadjectiveUS /feɪn/
having made preparations
From this reading The women shivering in the darkness about her would fain have struck a light and drawn her back into the room, for they felt safer there.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The women shivering in the darkness about her would fain have struck a light and drawn her back into the room, for they felt safer there.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The women shivering in the darkness about her would fain have struck a light and drawn her back into the room, for they felt safer there.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
the act of departing
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But Mademoiselle would not have candles brought.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The women shivering in the darkness about her would fain have struck a light and drawn her back into the room, for they felt safer there.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
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 Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The women shivering in the darkness about her would fain have struck a light and drawn her back into the room, for they felt safer there.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
small silvery drumfish often mistaken for white perch; found along coasts of United States from New York to Mexico
From this reading But Mademoiselle would not have candles brought.
come together
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading But she was not to be moved.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But Mademoiselle would not have candles brought.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
saferadjectiveUS /ˈseɪfər/
comparative of “safe” — free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading The women shivering in the darkness about her would fain have struck a light and drawn her back into the room, for they felt safer there.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
shiveringnounUS /ˈʃɪvərɪŋ/
a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever
From this reading The women shivering in the darkness about her would fain have struck a light and drawn her back into the room, for they felt safer there.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The women shivering in the darkness about her would fain have struck a light and drawn her back into the room, for they felt safer there.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The women shivering in the darkness about her would fain have struck a light and drawn her back into the room, for they felt safer there.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
thickenedadjectiveUS /ˈθɪkənd/
made or having become thick
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
uppermostadjectiveUS /ˈʌpərmoʊst/
at or nearest to the top
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But she was not to be moved.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Little by little--while they fought below--the gloom had thickened, and night had fallen in the room above.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The women shivering in the darkness about her would fain have struck a light and drawn her back into the room, for they felt safer there.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading Seated in the darkness, on the uppermost step of the stairs, her hands clasped about her knees, she listened and listened, as if by that action she could avert misfortune; or as if, by going so far forward to meet it, she could turn aside the worst.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But Mademoiselle would not have candles brought.
