used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
(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 They were all right, unoccupied, straight and tidy.
in addition
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
plural of “article” — nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
balustrades
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The balustrades were very handsome, but very low; on this upper landing, dangerously low.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
bodkinnounUS /ˈbɑːdkɪn/
a dagger with a slender blade
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
bull's-eyenoun
a lantern with a single opening and a sliding panel that can be closed to conceal the light
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The balustrades were very handsome, but very low; on this upper landing, dangerously low.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
dangerouslyadverbUS /ˈdeɪn.dʒər.əs.li/
In a way that involves danger or risk.
From this reading The balustrades were very handsome, but very low; on this upper landing, dangerously low.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading The balustrades were very handsome, but very low; on this upper landing, dangerously low.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
indicateverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪt/
be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The balustrades were very handsome, but very low; on this upper landing, dangerously low.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
precisely, exactly
From this reading They were all right, unoccupied, straight and tidy.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
sleevenounUS /sliːv/
the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
successive (without a break)
From this reading They were all right, unoccupied, straight and tidy.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were all right, unoccupied, straight and tidy.
thimblenounUS /ˈθɪmbəl/
as much as a thimble will hold
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
a special situation
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The balustrades were very handsome, but very low; on this upper landing, dangerously low.
propel through the air
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
tidyadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪdi/
marked by order and cleanliness in appearance or habits
From this reading They were all right, unoccupied, straight and tidy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
unoccupiedadjectiveUS /əˈnɑːkjəpaɪd/
not held or filled or in use
From this reading They were all right, unoccupied, straight and tidy.
the topmost one of two
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
precisely as stated
From this reading The balustrades were very handsome, but very low; on this upper landing, dangerously low.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first thing the man did, on reaching the landing above, was to open the room doors one by one, and throw his bull's-eye light into them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were all right, unoccupied, straight and tidy.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On the landing of the upper floor lay one or two articles, which seemed to indicate that some kind of struggle had taken place there.
wristbandnoun
band consisting of a part of a sleeve that covers the wrist
From this reading A thimble here, a bodkin there, also the bit that had been torn out of the girl's gown in front, and the wristband from the sleeve.
