used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
barsnounUS /bɑːrz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been trying to reach something from the mantelpiece, and had climbed up on the unsteady old fender.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading She had been trying to reach something from the mantelpiece, and had climbed up on the unsteady old fender.
a small house with a single story
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
someone who is a detective
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
doorstepnounUS /ˈdɔːrstep/
the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway
From this reading On the doorstep he met little Susy, with her lilac pinafore in flames.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
draughtnounUS /dræft/
a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
fendernounUS /ˈfendər/
a barrier that surrounds the wheels of a vehicle to block splashing water or mud
From this reading She had been trying to reach something from the mantelpiece, and had climbed up on the unsteady old fender.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading FIGHTING FIRE.
start firing a weapon
From this reading FIGHTING FIRE.
flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading On the doorstep he met little Susy, with her lilac pinafore in flames.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had been trying to reach something from the mantelpiece, and had climbed up on the unsteady old fender.
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 There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On the doorstep he met little Susy, with her lilac pinafore in flames.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
lilacnounUS /ˈlaɪlæk/
any of various plants of the genus Syringa having large panicles of usually fragrant flowers
From this reading On the doorstep he met little Susy, with her lilac pinafore in flames.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading On the doorstep he met little Susy, with her lilac pinafore in flames.
mantelpiecenoun
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading She had been trying to reach something from the mantelpiece, and had climbed up on the unsteady old fender.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading On the doorstep he met little Susy, with her lilac pinafore in flames.
mountingnounUS /ˈmaʊntɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She had been trying to reach something from the mantelpiece, and had climbed up on the unsteady old fender.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the doorstep he met little Susy, with her lilac pinafore in flames.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
pinaforenoun
a sleeveless dress resembling an apron; worn over other clothing
From this reading On the doorstep he met little Susy, with her lilac pinafore in flames.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading She had been trying to reach something from the mantelpiece, and had climbed up on the unsteady old fender.
past form of “rouse” — become active
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
done under pressure
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been trying to reach something from the mantelpiece, and had climbed up on the unsteady old fender.
singedverbUS /sɪndʒd/
past form of “singe” — burn superficially or lightly
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading She had been trying to reach something from the mantelpiece, and had climbed up on the unsteady old fender.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
Susy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the doorstep he met little Susy, with her lilac pinafore in flames.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading A sudden scream of terror from the cottage roused Dick from his thinking, and laying the baby down he rushed in.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had been trying to reach something from the mantelpiece, and had climbed up on the unsteady old fender.
in the direction of
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
hard to endure
From this reading She had been trying to reach something from the mantelpiece, and had climbed up on the unsteady old fender.
unsteadyadjectiveUS /ənˈstedi/
subject to change or variation
From this reading She had been trying to reach something from the mantelpiece, and had climbed up on the unsteady old fender.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She had been trying to reach something from the mantelpiece, and had climbed up on the unsteady old fender.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was no guard in front of the open fire, and the draught had drawn her pinafore towards the bars and set it on fire, and the flames were mounting around her, and already her hair was singed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On the doorstep he met little Susy, with her lilac pinafore in flames.
