used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
the state of being absent
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
(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 The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The rector's wide orchard overshadowed the walls, and kept at a distance the murmur of external life.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The rector's wide orchard overshadowed the walls, and kept at a distance the murmur of external life.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading They had placed the children in bed in two upper rooms of the rectory looking towards the north.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
brightestadjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtəst/
superlative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading They had placed the children in bed in two upper rooms of the rectory looking towards the north.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
creepverbUS /kriːp/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
decisiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈsaɪsɪv/
determining or having the power to determine an outcome
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
dependedverbUS /dɪˈpendəd/
past form of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The rector's wide orchard overshadowed the walls, and kept at a distance the murmur of external life.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
doctor'snounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
encouragedadjectiveUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒd/
inspired with confidence
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
excitableadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtəbəl/
easily excited
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
externaladjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɜːrnəl/
happening or arising or located outside or beyond some limits or especially surface
From this reading The rector's wide orchard overshadowed the walls, and kept at a distance the murmur of external life.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
footstepnounUS /ˈfʊtstep/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
a young female
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
destroyed or killed
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had placed the children in bed in two upper rooms of the rectory looking towards the north.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They had placed the children in bed in two upper rooms of the rectory looking towards the north.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The rector's wide orchard overshadowed the walls, and kept at a distance the murmur of external life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The rector's wide orchard overshadowed the walls, and kept at a distance the murmur of external life.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading They had placed the children in bed in two upper rooms of the rectory looking towards the north.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
a particular point in time
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading The rector's wide orchard overshadowed the walls, and kept at a distance the murmur of external life.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading They had placed the children in bed in two upper rooms of the rectory looking towards the north.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had placed the children in bed in two upper rooms of the rectory looking towards the north.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
orchardnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərd/
garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading The rector's wide orchard overshadowed the walls, and kept at a distance the murmur of external life.
overshadowedverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈʃædoʊd/
past form of “overshadow” — be greater in significance than
From this reading The rector's wide orchard overshadowed the walls, and kept at a distance the murmur of external life.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading They had placed the children in bed in two upper rooms of the rectory looking towards the north.
precautionnounUS /priˈkɔːʃən/
a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
recommendedverbUS /ˌrekəˈmendɪd/
past form of “recommend” — push for something
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
rector's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rector's wide orchard overshadowed the walls, and kept at a distance the murmur of external life.
rectorynounUS /ˈrektəri/
an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector
From this reading They had placed the children in bed in two upper rooms of the rectory looking towards the north.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading They had placed the children in bed in two upper rooms of the rectory looking towards the north.
only a very short time before
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
shuttersnounUS /ˈʃʌtərz/
plural of “shutter” — a mechanical device on a camera that opens and closes to control the time of a photographic exposure
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
temperamentnounUS /ˈtemprəmənt/
your usual mood
From this reading The doctor had recommended that particular care should be taken of the little girl; all that depended on him had succeeded; now, in quiet, must nature do the rest; and the girl's easily excitable temperament required the most careful attention and precaution.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They had placed the children in bed in two upper rooms of the rectory looking towards the north.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had placed the children in bed in two upper rooms of the rectory looking towards the north.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
in the direction of
From this reading They had placed the children in bed in two upper rooms of the rectory looking towards the north.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading They had placed the children in bed in two upper rooms of the rectory looking towards the north.
the topmost one of two
From this reading They had placed the children in bed in two upper rooms of the rectory looking towards the north.
plural of “wall” — 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 The rector's wide orchard overshadowed the walls, and kept at a distance the murmur of external life.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
at the time that
From this reading At the decisive moment, Mary had been firm, when her mother burst into tears, as she heard the doctor's footstep on the stairs, she had gone to her and encouraged her.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The rector's wide orchard overshadowed the walls, and kept at a distance the murmur of external life.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the absence of shutters, the windows were carefully covered with dark curtains, so that in the brightest day scarcely a ray of light could creep in.
