used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Outside was a grey cold world.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Only three o'clock, and yet it seemed almost dark.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
Anstice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
BARGAINnounUS /ˈbɑːrɡən/
an agreement between parties (usually arrived at after discussion) fixing obligations of each
From this reading THE "BEST OF THE BARGAIN" IT was snowing heavily, the Fells were covered, the roads were blocked.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading THE "BEST OF THE BARGAIN" IT was snowing heavily, the Fells were covered, the roads were blocked.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
blazingadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪzɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
blockedadjectiveUS /blɑːkt/
closed to traffic
From this reading THE "BEST OF THE BARGAIN" IT was snowing heavily, the Fells were covered, the roads were blocked.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
clusteredadjectiveUS /ˈklʌstərd/
growing close together but not in dense mats
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Outside was a grey cold world.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading THE "BEST OF THE BARGAIN" IT was snowing heavily, the Fells were covered, the roads were blocked.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Only three o'clock, and yet it seemed almost dark.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was her first day downstairs.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading It was her first day downstairs.
draughtsnounUS /dræfts/
a checkerboard game for two players who each have 12 pieces; the object is to jump over and so capture the opponent's pieces
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
FellsnounUS /felz/
plural of “fell” — the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)
From this reading THE "BEST OF THE BARGAIN" IT was snowing heavily, the Fells were covered, the roads were blocked.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was her first day downstairs.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Outside was a grey cold world.
to a considerable degree
From this reading THE "BEST OF THE BARGAIN" IT was snowing heavily, the Fells were covered, the roads were blocked.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE "BEST OF THE BARGAIN" IT was snowing heavily, the Fells were covered, the roads were blocked.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
log-fires
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
ManornounUS /ˈmænər/
the mansion of a lord or wealthy person
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Only three o'clock, and yet it seemed almost dark.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE "BEST OF THE BARGAIN" IT was snowing heavily, the Fells were covered, the roads were blocked.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
and nothing more
From this reading Only three o'clock, and yet it seemed almost dark.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Outside was a grey cold world.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading THE "BEST OF THE BARGAIN" IT was snowing heavily, the Fells were covered, the roads were blocked.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Only three o'clock, and yet it seemed almost dark.
snowingverbUS /ˈsnoʊɪŋ/
-ing form of “snow” — fall as snow
From this reading THE "BEST OF THE BARGAIN" IT was snowing heavily, the Fells were covered, the roads were blocked.
sputteringnounUS /ˈspʌtərɪŋ/
the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE "BEST OF THE BARGAIN" IT was snowing heavily, the Fells were covered, the roads were blocked.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Only three o'clock, and yet it seemed almost dark.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But inside the Manor, the log-fires were blazing and sputtering, the thick curtains were drawn to keep off draughts, and in the drawing-room, Anstice was back in her big chair, and the children clustered around her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE "BEST OF THE BARGAIN" IT was snowing heavily, the Fells were covered, the roads were blocked.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE "BEST OF THE BARGAIN" IT was snowing heavily, the Fells were covered, the roads were blocked.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Outside was a grey cold world.
but in spite of that
From this reading Only three o'clock, and yet it seemed almost dark.