used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
(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 There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I lay as still as I could, because of what Mrs Dick had said, and by-and-by I fell asleep in spite of the mice, and slept until it was dark.
in a state of sleep
From this reading I lay as still as I could, because of what Mrs Dick had said, and by-and-by I fell asleep in spite of the mice, and slept until it was dark.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
aroused or activated
From this reading I was awakened by the rolling back of the stairs.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading I was awakened by the rolling back of the stairs.
for the reason that
From this reading I lay as still as I could, because of what Mrs Dick had said, and by-and-by I fell asleep in spite of the mice, and slept until it was dark.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
broadestadjectiveUS /ˈbrɔːdɪst/
superlative of “broad” — having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I was awakened by the rolling back of the stairs.
by-and-bynoun
an indefinite time in the future
From this reading I lay as still as I could, because of what Mrs Dick had said, and by-and-by I fell asleep in spite of the mice, and slept until it was dark.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading As I started up, thinking that I was captured, I saw Mrs Dick standing over me with a candle in her hand.
capturedverbUS /ˈkæptʃərd/
past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading As I started up, thinking that I was captured, I saw Mrs Dick standing over me with a candle in her hand.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I lay as still as I could, because of what Mrs Dick had said, and by-and-by I fell asleep in spite of the mice, and slept until it was dark.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
someone who is a detective
From this reading I lay as still as I could, because of what Mrs Dick had said, and by-and-by I fell asleep in spite of the mice, and slept until it was dark.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading I lay as still as I could, because of what Mrs Dick had said, and by-and-by I fell asleep in spite of the mice, and slept until it was dark.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading As I started up, thinking that I was captured, I saw Mrs Dick standing over me with a candle in her hand.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As I started up, thinking that I was captured, I saw Mrs Dick standing over me with a candle in her hand.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
inchnounUS /ɪntʃ/
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
inchesnounUS /ˈɪntʃəz/
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
lainverbUS /leɪn/
inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I lay as still as I could, because of what Mrs Dick had said, and by-and-by I fell asleep in spite of the mice, and slept until it was dark.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
micenounUS /maɪs/
plural of “mouse” — any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
From this reading There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading I lay as still as I could, because of what Mrs Dick had said, and by-and-by I fell asleep in spite of the mice, and slept until it was dark.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
and nothing more
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
on the contrary
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
uttered with a trill
From this reading I was awakened by the rolling back of the stairs.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading I lay as still as I could, because of what Mrs Dick had said, and by-and-by I fell asleep in spite of the mice, and slept until it was dark.
cut with a saw
From this reading As I started up, thinking that I was captured, I saw Mrs Dick standing over me with a candle in her hand.
scamperingverbUS /ˈskæmpərɪŋ/
-ing form of “scamper” — to move about or proceed hurriedly
From this reading There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading I lay as still as I could, because of what Mrs Dick had said, and by-and-by I fell asleep in spite of the mice, and slept until it was dark.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
smellsnounUS /smelz/
plural of “smell” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading I lay as still as I could, because of what Mrs Dick had said, and by-and-by I fell asleep in spite of the mice, and slept until it was dark.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
having a supporting base
From this reading As I started up, thinking that I was captured, I saw Mrs Dick standing over me with a candle in her hand.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading As I started up, thinking that I was captured, I saw Mrs Dick standing over me with a candle in her hand.
not in physical motion
From this reading I lay as still as I could, because of what Mrs Dick had said, and by-and-by I fell asleep in spite of the mice, and slept until it was dark.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
stuffyadjectiveUS /ˈstʌfi/
lacking fresh air
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As I started up, thinking that I was captured, I saw Mrs Dick standing over me with a candle in her hand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a strong smell of mice, among other smells; and the mice came scampering all over me before I had lain there long.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading As I started up, thinking that I was captured, I saw Mrs Dick standing over me with a candle in her hand.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
TRACKEDadjectiveUS /trækt/
having tracks
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading I lay as still as I could, because of what Mrs Dick had said, and by-and-by I fell asleep in spite of the mice, and slept until it was dark.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As I started up, thinking that I was captured, I saw Mrs Dick standing over me with a candle in her hand.
precisely as stated
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading TRACKED It was very dark in the drawing-room under the stairs, and rather stuffy, for the only light and air admitted came through a little narrow crack, about six inches long, and half an inch across at its broadest.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I lay as still as I could, because of what Mrs Dick had said, and by-and-by I fell asleep in spite of the mice, and slept until it was dark.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As I started up, thinking that I was captured, I saw Mrs Dick standing over me with a candle in her hand.
