used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "You must be almost dead!"
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
a young person of either sex
From this reading "You go to bed," she whispered in a tone that would not disturb the child.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
power to direct or determine
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading "You must be almost dead!"
someone who is a detective
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading "You go to bed," she whispered in a tone that would not disturb the child.
having the place or position changed
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
exclusiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈskluːsɪv/
not divided or shared with others
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "You go to bed," she whispered in a tone that would not disturb the child.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
intense and profound fear
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
Leonie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
Liz
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
mantelpiecenoun
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
Mauprat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "You must be almost dead!"
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
nebulousadjectiveUS /ˈnebjələs/
lacking definite form or limits
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
resting-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
shiververbUS /ˈʃɪvər/
tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
without speaking
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
slumbernounUS /ˈslʌmbər/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
tolledverbUS /toʊld/
past form of “toll” — ring slowly
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "You go to bed," she whispered in a tone that would not disturb the child.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading He had been placed upon the almost comfortable bed that Ben Mauprat had used as his exclusive resting-place, and appeared more comfortable than they could have hoped.
in or at the place that
From this reading A nebulous gleam of light from an almost exhausted candle fell upon Leonie and Liz as they sat silently in the room where Dick lay in a disturbed slumber.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading "You go to bed," she whispered in a tone that would not disturb the child.
in the company of; together with
From this reading An old-fashioned clock upon the mantelpiece tolled the hour of two, and, with a shiver of horror and dread that she could not control, Liz drew nearer to Leonie.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "You go to bed," she whispered in a tone that would not disturb the child.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You go to bed," she whispered in a tone that would not disturb the child.
