used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading There was this increased activity outside.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind us the pine boards cracked with miniature, sharp reports.
blocknounUS /blɑːk/
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
boardsnounUS /bɔːrdz/
(used in the plural) the stage of a theater
From this reading Behind us the pine boards cracked with miniature, sharp reports.
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Julius continued the longitudinal passes, and “Mrs. LeVallon” passed with every minute into deeper and more complete somnambulism.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Julius continued the longitudinal passes, and “Mrs. LeVallon” passed with every minute into deeper and more complete somnambulism.
crackedadjectiveUS /krækt/
used of skin roughened as a result of cold or exposure
From this reading Behind us the pine boards cracked with miniature, sharp reports.
crashverbUS /kræʃ/
fall or come down violently
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading Julius continued the longitudinal passes, and “Mrs. LeVallon” passed with every minute into deeper and more complete somnambulism.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Julius continued the longitudinal passes, and “Mrs. LeVallon” passed with every minute into deeper and more complete somnambulism.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading There was this increased activity outside.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
Julius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Julius continued the longitudinal passes, and “Mrs. LeVallon” passed with every minute into deeper and more complete somnambulism.
LeVallon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Julius continued the longitudinal passes, and “Mrs. LeVallon” passed with every minute into deeper and more complete somnambulism.
longitudinaladjectiveUS /ˌlɑːndʒəˈtuːdənəl/
of or relating to lines of longitude
From this reading Julius continued the longitudinal passes, and “Mrs. LeVallon” passed with every minute into deeper and more complete somnambulism.
miniaturenounUS /ˈmɪniətʃʊr/
painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)
From this reading Behind us the pine boards cracked with miniature, sharp reports.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading Julius continued the longitudinal passes, and “Mrs. LeVallon” passed with every minute into deeper and more complete somnambulism.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Julius continued the longitudinal passes, and “Mrs. LeVallon” passed with every minute into deeper and more complete somnambulism.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Julius continued the longitudinal passes, and “Mrs. LeVallon” passed with every minute into deeper and more complete somnambulism.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading There was this increased activity outside.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Julius continued the longitudinal passes, and “Mrs. LeVallon” passed with every minute into deeper and more complete somnambulism.
passesnounUS /ˈpæsəz/
plural of “pass” — (baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls
From this reading Julius continued the longitudinal passes, and “Mrs. LeVallon” passed with every minute into deeper and more complete somnambulism.
peatnounUS /piːt/
partially carbonized vegetable matter saturated with water; can be used as a fuel when dried
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
pinenounUS /paɪn/
a coniferous tree
From this reading Behind us the pine boards cracked with miniature, sharp reports.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
on the contrary
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
reportsnounUS /rɪˈpɔːrts/
plural of “report” — a written document describing the findings of some individual or group
From this reading Behind us the pine boards cracked with miniature, sharp reports.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
move hurridly
From this reading A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Behind us the pine boards cracked with miniature, sharp reports.
showernounUS /ˈʃaʊər/
a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
with low volume
From this reading A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
somnambulismnoun
walking by a person who is asleep
From this reading Julius continued the longitudinal passes, and “Mrs. LeVallon” passed with every minute into deeper and more complete somnambulism.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
sparksnounUS /spɑːrks/
plural of “spark” — a momentary flash of light
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was this increased activity outside.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was this increased activity outside.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Behind us the pine boards cracked with miniature, sharp reports.
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 A rush of air ran softly round the walls and roof, then dropped away into silence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was this increased activity outside.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A roar next sounded in the chimney, high up rather; a block of peat fell with a sudden crash into the grate, sending a shower of sparks to find the outer air.
