used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A little more light was necessary.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He had already seen that the shutters of the window were closed; he trusted there was no chink to betray him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading The first thing was to get arms of some kind for his men.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
attractverbUS /əˈtrækt/
direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
betrayverbUS /bɪˈtreɪ/
reveal unintentionally
From this reading He had already seen that the shutters of the window were closed; he trusted there was no chink to betray him.
chinknounUS /tʃɪŋk/
(ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Chinese descent
From this reading He had already seen that the shutters of the window were closed; he trusted there was no chink to betray him.
chipsnounUS /tʃɪps/
strips of potato fried in deep fat
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading He had already seen that the shutters of the window were closed; he trusted there was no chink to betray him.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
dryingverbUS /ˈdraɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “dry” — remove the moisture from and make dry
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
embersnounUS /ˈembərz/
plural of “ember” — a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
ferventlyadverbUS /ˈfɜːrvəntli/
with passionate fervor
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first thing was to get arms of some kind for his men.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The first thing was to get arms of some kind for his men.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The first thing was to get arms of some kind for his men.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had already seen that the shutters of the window were closed; he trusted there was no chink to betray him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had already seen that the shutters of the window were closed; he trusted there was no chink to betray him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had already seen that the shutters of the window were closed; he trusted there was no chink to betray him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The first thing was to get arms of some kind for his men.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading The first thing was to get arms of some kind for his men.
kindledadjectiveUS /ˈkɪndəld/
set afire
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A little more light was necessary.
provided with artificial light
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little more light was necessary.
the force of workers available
From this reading The first thing was to get arms of some kind for his men.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A little more light was necessary.
absolutely essential
From this reading A little more light was necessary.
not any; not one
From this reading He had already seen that the shutters of the window were closed; he trusted there was no chink to betray him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had already seen that the shutters of the window were closed; he trusted there was no chink to betray him.
sentrynounUS /ˈsentri/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
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 He had already seen that the shutters of the window were closed; he trusted there was no chink to betray him.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The first thing was to get arms of some kind for his men.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He had already seen that the shutters of the window were closed; he trusted there was no chink to betray him.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
a special situation
From this reading The first thing was to get arms of some kind for his men.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
tremornounUS /ˈtremər/
an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear)
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
trustedadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌstɪd/
(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence
From this reading He had already seen that the shutters of the window were closed; he trusted there was no chink to betray him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
past form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A little more light was necessary.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
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 He had already seen that the shutters of the window were closed; he trusted there was no chink to betray him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading Not without a tremor, Jack ventured to put on the embers one or two small chips of wood that were drying at the side of the grate.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They kindled, and lit the room with a dancing flame, which Jack fervently hoped would not attract the attention of the sentry outside.
