used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was an oil lamp in the house, but the paraffin, which Lawless was bringing with him, had been forgotten on the day of their arrival.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The light had fallen and night was settling upon the land.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading There was an oil lamp in the house, but the paraffin, which Lawless was bringing with him, had been forgotten on the day of their arrival.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was the only means of illumination she had at hand.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Lawless was late in getting back to the shanty.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There was an oil lamp in the house, but the paraffin, which Lawless was bringing with him, had been forgotten on the day of their arrival.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading There was an oil lamp in the house, but the paraffin, which Lawless was bringing with him, had been forgotten on the day of their arrival.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was an oil lamp in the house, but the paraffin, which Lawless was bringing with him, had been forgotten on the day of their arrival.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
candlesnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading There was an oil lamp in the house, but the paraffin, which Lawless was bringing with him, had been forgotten on the day of their arrival.
discernedverbUS /dɪˈsɜːrnd/
past form of “discern” — detect with the senses
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The light had fallen and night was settling upon the land.
flickeringadjectiveUS /ˈflɪkərɪŋ/
shining unsteadily
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading There was an oil lamp in the house, but the paraffin, which Lawless was bringing with him, had been forgotten on the day of their arrival.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading Lawless was late in getting back to the shanty.
glimmernounUS /ˈɡlɪmər/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The light had fallen and night was settling upon the land.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading It was the only means of illumination she had at hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
illuminationnounUS /ˌɪluːməˈneɪʃən/
a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination
From this reading It was the only means of illumination she had at hand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lawless was late in getting back to the shanty.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the only means of illumination she had at hand.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading There was an oil lamp in the house, but the paraffin, which Lawless was bringing with him, had been forgotten on the day of their arrival.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading The light had fallen and night was settling upon the land.
landmarknounUS /ˈlændmɑːrk/
the position of a prominent or well-known object in a particular landscape
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Lawless was late in getting back to the shanty.
LawlessadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːləs/
without law or control
From this reading Lawless was late in getting back to the shanty.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The light had fallen and night was settling upon the land.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading It was the only means of illumination she had at hand.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The light had fallen and night was settling upon the land.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading There was an oil lamp in the house, but the paraffin, which Lawless was bringing with him, had been forgotten on the day of their arrival.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was an oil lamp in the house, but the paraffin, which Lawless was bringing with him, had been forgotten on the day of their arrival.
and nothing more
From this reading It was the only means of illumination she had at hand.
paraffinnounUS /ˈperəfən/
from crude petroleum; used for candles and for preservative or waterproof coatings
From this reading There was an oil lamp in the house, but the paraffin, which Lawless was bringing with him, had been forgotten on the day of their arrival.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
settlingnounUS /ˈsetəlɪŋ/
a gradual sinking to a lower level
From this reading The light had fallen and night was settling upon the land.
shantynounUS /ˈʃænti/
small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading Lawless was late in getting back to the shanty.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was the only means of illumination she had at hand.
not in physical motion
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Lawless was late in getting back to the shanty.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There was an oil lamp in the house, but the paraffin, which Lawless was bringing with him, had been forgotten on the day of their arrival.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was an oil lamp in the house, but the paraffin, which Lawless was bringing with him, had been forgotten on the day of their arrival.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lawless was late in getting back to the shanty.
Tottie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The light had fallen and night was settling upon the land.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lawless was late in getting back to the shanty.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was an oil lamp in the house, but the paraffin, which Lawless was bringing with him, had been forgotten on the day of their arrival.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was an oil lamp in the house, but the paraffin, which Lawless was bringing with him, had been forgotten on the day of their arrival.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading While he was still a good way off he discerned the house by the flickering yellow glimmer of the candles Tottie had put in the window as a landmark for him.
