used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
Alec
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no faster runner in the village than Alec Stoker.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
blownadjectiveUS /bloʊn/
being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
the act of burning something
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
burstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/
-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
contestsnounUS /ˈkɑːntests/
plural of “contest” — an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
curlingnounUS /ˈkɜːrlɪŋ/
a game played on ice in which heavy stones with handles are slid toward a target
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
dashverbUS /dæʃ/
run or move very quickly or hastily
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
eavesnounUS /iːvz/
the overhang at the lower edge of a roof
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
fannedadjectiveUS /fænd/
especially spread in a fan shape
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading There was no faster runner in the village than Alec Stoker.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading It was as he had feared.
field-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
start firing a weapon
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
honoursnoun
a university degree with honors
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was no faster runner in the village than Alec Stoker.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was as he had feared.
immediately past
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
lickingnounUS /ˈlɪkɪŋ/
an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
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 Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
roused to anger
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
mosquito-bar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no faster runner in the village than Alec Stoker.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
recordsnounUS /rəˈkɔːrdz/
plural of “record” — anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
runnernounUS /ˈrʌnər/
someone who imports or exports without paying duties
From this reading There was no faster runner in the village than Alec Stoker.
StokernounUS /ˈstoʊkər/
Irish writer of the horror novel about Dracula (1847-1912)
From this reading There was no faster runner in the village than Alec Stoker.
surpassedverbUS /sərˈpæst/
past form of “surpass” — distinguish oneself
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
moving very fast
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There was no faster runner in the village than Alec Stoker.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was no faster runner in the village than Alec Stoker.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no faster runner in the village than Alec Stoker.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
tonguesnounUS /tʌŋz/
plural of “tongue” — a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In the last two field-day contests he had carried off the honours, and now he surpassed all previous records in that mad dash from the hotel to the burning house.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading There was no faster runner in the village than Alec Stoker.
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 He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no faster runner in the village than Alec Stoker.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading He had forgotten to put out the light, the curtains had blown over it, and, fanned by the rising wind, the fire had leaped from curtain to bed, from mosquito-bar to wall, until the whole room was in a blaze.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Swift as he was, however, the flames were bursting from the windows of his room by the time he reached the gate, and curling up over the eaves with long, licking tongues.
