used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Mrs. John's work was carefully folded and put away, even the little litter of thimbles and thread on the table had been "tidied," as her usage was.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading They had been preparing to go to bed.
bedtimenounUS /ˈbedtaɪm/
the time you go to bed
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Outside it had seemed a ruddy little star of domestic comfort, but within the prospect was less cheerful.
candlesnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading Mrs. John's work was carefully folded and put away, even the little litter of thimbles and thread on the table had been "tidied," as her usage was.
a formal event performed on a special occasion
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading Outside it had seemed a ruddy little star of domestic comfort, but within the prospect was less cheerful.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading Outside it had seemed a ruddy little star of domestic comfort, but within the prospect was less cheerful.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation
From this reading Outside it had seemed a ruddy little star of domestic comfort, but within the prospect was less cheerful.
doubtfuladjectiveUS /ˈdaʊtfəl/
open to doubt or suspicion
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
divisible by two
From this reading Mrs. John's work was carefully folded and put away, even the little litter of thimbles and thread on the table had been "tidied," as her usage was.
at any time
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
start firing a weapon
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading Mrs. John's work was carefully folded and put away, even the little litter of thimbles and thread on the table had been "tidied," as her usage was.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
frequentverbUS /ˈfriːkwənt/
do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They had been preparing to go to bed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. John's work was carefully folded and put away, even the little litter of thimbles and thread on the table had been "tidied," as her usage was.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
John'snounUS /dʒɑːnz/
possessive form of “john” — a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Mrs. John's work was carefully folded and put away, even the little litter of thimbles and thread on the table had been "tidied," as her usage was.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Outside it had seemed a ruddy little star of domestic comfort, but within the prospect was less cheerful.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
litternounUS /ˈlɪtər/
the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal
From this reading Mrs. John's work was carefully folded and put away, even the little litter of thimbles and thread on the table had been "tidied," as her usage was.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. John's work was carefully folded and put away, even the little litter of thimbles and thread on the table had been "tidied," as her usage was.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Outside it had seemed a ruddy little star of domestic comfort, but within the prospect was less cheerful.
preparingverbUS /priˈperɪŋ/
-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading They had been preparing to go to bed.
the possibility of future success
From this reading Outside it had seemed a ruddy little star of domestic comfort, but within the prospect was less cheerful.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Mrs. John's work was carefully folded and put away, even the little litter of thimbles and thread on the table had been "tidied," as her usage was.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
ruddyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌdi/
inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life
From this reading Outside it had seemed a ruddy little star of domestic comfort, but within the prospect was less cheerful.
except for; apart from
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Outside it had seemed a ruddy little star of domestic comfort, but within the prospect was less cheerful.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Outside it had seemed a ruddy little star of domestic comfort, but within the prospect was less cheerful.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had been preparing to go to bed.
thimbles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. John's work was carefully folded and put away, even the little litter of thimbles and thread on the table had been "tidied," as her usage was.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading Mrs. John's work was carefully folded and put away, even the little litter of thimbles and thread on the table had been "tidied," as her usage was.
tidied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. John's work was carefully folded and put away, even the little litter of thimbles and thread on the table had been "tidied," as her usage was.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had been preparing to go to bed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
usagenounUS /ˈjuːsədʒ/
the act of using
From this reading Mrs. John's work was carefully folded and put away, even the little litter of thimbles and thread on the table had been "tidied," as her usage was.
precisely as stated
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
someone who visits
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
wainscotedadjective
fitted or decorated with panels or wainscoting
From this reading As it was so near bedtime the fire was low, and the two candles on the table gave very little light in the dark wainscoted room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading He was not a frequent visitor: indeed it is doubtful whether, save for a visit of ceremony, he had ever been there before.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Outside it had seemed a ruddy little star of domestic comfort, but within the prospect was less cheerful.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Mrs. John's work was carefully folded and put away, even the little litter of thimbles and thread on the table had been "tidied," as her usage was.
