used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading He returned to his room and found that Dick had made a great improvement in his personal appearance.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
a youthful male person
From this reading Here he provided the boy with a pair of long stockings and his own slippers.
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading Then he showed him where he could wash his hands and face and brush his hair.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
prepare a hot meal
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Then he showed him where he could wash his hands and face and brush his hair.
someone who is a detective
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Then he showed him where he could wash his hands and face and brush his hair.
start firing a weapon
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
set up or found
From this reading He returned to his room and found that Dick had made a great improvement in his personal appearance.
a man of refinement
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He returned to his room and found that Dick had made a great improvement in his personal appearance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He returned to his room and found that Dick had made a great improvement in his personal appearance.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Then he showed him where he could wash his hands and face and brush his hair.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Then he showed him where he could wash his hands and face and brush his hair.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Here he provided the boy with a pair of long stockings and his own slippers.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here he provided the boy with a pair of long stockings and his own slippers.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then he showed him where he could wash his hands and face and brush his hair.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
improvementnounUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvmənt/
a change for the better; progress in development
From this reading He returned to his room and found that Dick had made a great improvement in his personal appearance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He returned to his room and found that Dick had made a great improvement in his personal appearance.
instructedverbUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌktəd/
past form of “instruct” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Here he provided the boy with a pair of long stockings and his own slippers.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He returned to his room and found that Dick had made a great improvement in his personal appearance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Here he provided the boy with a pair of long stockings and his own slippers.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Here he provided the boy with a pair of long stockings and his own slippers.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading He returned to his room and found that Dick had made a great improvement in his personal appearance.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Here he provided the boy with a pair of long stockings and his own slippers.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He returned to his room and found that Dick had made a great improvement in his personal appearance.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
a particular situation
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Then he showed him where he could wash his hands and face and brush his hair.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
slippersnounUS /ˈslɪpərz/
plural of “slipper” — low footwear that can be slipped on and off easily; usually worn indoors
From this reading Here he provided the boy with a pair of long stockings and his own slippers.
in the near future
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
stockingsnounUS /ˈstɑːkɪŋz/
plural of “stocking” — close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)
From this reading Here he provided the boy with a pair of long stockings and his own slippers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He returned to his room and found that Dick had made a great improvement in his personal appearance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he showed him where he could wash his hands and face and brush his hair.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back stairs to his own room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
washverbUS /wɑːʃ/
clean with some chemical process
From this reading Then he showed him where he could wash his hands and face and brush his hair.
in or at the place that
From this reading Then he showed him where he could wash his hands and face and brush his hair.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While Dick was thus employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen, and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as possible.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Here he provided the boy with a pair of long stockings and his own slippers.
