used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
(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 With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
move towards
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
arrestverbUS /ərˈest/
take into custody
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
bailiffnounUS /ˈbeɪləf/
an officer of the court who is employed to execute writs and processes and make arrests etc.
From this reading With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
Bram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
Bram's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading BY THE FURNACE FIRES.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/
an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
Duke'snounUS /duːks/
possessive form of “duke” — a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading BY THE FURNACE FIRES.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
foreshadowverbUS /fɔːrˈʃædoʊ/
indicate, as with a sign or an omen
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
FURNACEnounUS /ˈfɜːrnəs/
an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to heat buildings, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores, etc.
From this reading BY THE FURNACE FIRES.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
in a gradual manner
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
only a very short time before
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
helpingnounUS /ˈhelpɪŋ/
an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
for more time
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
neglectfuladjectiveUS /nɪˈɡlektfəl/
not showing due care or attention
From this reading With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
no person; not anyone
From this reading With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BY THE FURNACE FIRES.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Things could not go on much longer at Duke’s Farm in the way they had been doing for some time now.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It went to Bram’s heart to see ruin creeping gradually nearer, while he dared not put out a helping hand to arrest its approach.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With nobody to look after him, the farm bailiff grew daily more neglectful of all business but his own.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Then there began a strange time of dreary waiting for some crisis which Bram felt was approaching, although he could hardly foreshadow what the nature of it would be.
