used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
in the past
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
(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 room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
a social unit living together
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
ghostlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊstli/
resembling or characteristic of a phantom
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
ghostsnounUS /ɡoʊsts/
plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
a young female
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
half-seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
and nothing more
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
Kate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
kneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
lamplightnoun
light from a lamp
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
set afire or burning
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
Mitfordnoun
United States writer (born in England) who wrote on American culture (1917-1996)
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
partiallyadverbUS /ˈpɑːrʃəli/
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
processionnounUS /prəˈseʃən/
(theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
quiververbUS /ˈkwɪvər/
shake with fast, tremulous movements
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
radiantadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdiːənt/
radiating or as if radiating light
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
reflectionsnounUS /rɪˈflekʃənz/
plural of “reflection” — a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
regulationnounUS /ˌreɡjəˈleɪʃən/
an authoritative rule
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
retiringadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrɪŋ/
not arrogant or presuming
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A minute ago the servants had been there in a line kneeling at prayers--dim beings, something between pictures and ghosts.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Kate had drawn a low chair close to the table, and was looking up at him with a little quiver of anxiety about her lips and eyes.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
venerableadjectiveUS /ˈvenərəbəl/
impressive by reason of age
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And now they had just stolen out in procession, and Dr Mitford had seated himself at the table for the regulation ten minutes which he spent with his family before retiring for the night.
a Caucasian
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The room was in its usual partially lighted state, with darkness in all the corners, half-seen furniture, and ghostly pictures on the walls.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading These two--the old man’s venerable white head throwing reflections from it in the soft lamplight, the young girl all radiant with beauty and feeling--were alone within the circle of light.
