used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
airinessnoun
the property of something spacious and abounding in fresh air
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
(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 first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
crawledverbUS /krɔːld/
past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The first who did so was Mrs Wilson, and Mr Spelman followed.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
HectornounUS /ˈhektər/
(Greek mythology) a mythical Trojan who was killed by Achilles during the Trojan War
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
hingesnounUS /ˈhɪndʒɪz/
plural of “hinge” — a joint that holds two parts together so that one can swing relative to the other
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
HYDRAULICSnounUS /haɪˈdrɔːlɪks/
study of the mechanics of fluids
From this reading HYDRAULICS.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
Macallaster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
engage in
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
a form of address for a man
From this reading The first who did so was Mrs Wilson, and Mr Spelman followed.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The first who did so was Mrs Wilson, and Mr Spelman followed.
nestnounUS /nest/
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
RuinsnounUS /ˈruːənz/
plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
satisfyingadjectiveUS /ˈsætɪsfaɪɪŋ/
providing abundant nourishment
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
Spelman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first who did so was Mrs Wilson, and Mr Spelman followed.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
a special situation
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
unwelladjectiveUS /ənˈwel/
somewhat ill or prone to illness
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Finding himself then, as it were, in a house of his own, he began to ask his friends in the village to come and see him in his new quarters.
which person or people
From this reading The first who did so was Mrs Wilson, and Mr Spelman followed.
Willie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
Willie'snounUS /ˈwɪliz/
possessive form of “willies” — feelings of uneasiness
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
WilsonnounUS /ˈwɪlsən/
author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)
From this reading The first who did so was Mrs Wilson, and Mr Spelman followed.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading Hector Macallaster was unwell, and it was a month before he was able to go; but the first day he could he crawled up the hill to the Ruins, and then up the little winding stair to Willie's nest.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The first thing Willie did, after getting his room all to himself, was to put hinges on the windows and make them open, so satisfying his father as to the airiness of the room.
