used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The morning sun beat against the drawn window shades, filling the room with a dim, almost cathedral light.
advancingadjectiveUS /ədˈvænsɪŋ/
moving forward
From this reading There was the usual sound of the busy city's street outside the window, for the morning was advancing, but here in the room it was very quiet.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The morning sun beat against the drawn window shades, filling the room with a dim, almost cathedral light.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The morning sun beat against the drawn window shades, filling the room with a dim, almost cathedral light.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
with anger
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
in a state of sleep
From this reading The old man lay back in his chair asleep.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading AUTHOR OF "SINNERS," ETC.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The old man lay back in his chair asleep.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading The morning sun beat against the drawn window shades, filling the room with a dim, almost cathedral light.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading There was the usual sound of the busy city's street outside the window, for the morning was advancing, but here in the room it was very quiet.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was the usual sound of the busy city's street outside the window, for the morning was advancing, but here in the room it was very quiet.
cathedralnounUS /kəˈθiːdrəl/
any large and important church
From this reading The morning sun beat against the drawn window shades, filling the room with a dim, almost cathedral light.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading The old man lay back in his chair asleep.
city'snounUS /ˈsɪtiz/
possessive form of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading There was the usual sound of the busy city's street outside the window, for the morning was advancing, but here in the room it was very quiet.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading The morning sun beat against the drawn window shades, filling the room with a dim, almost cathedral light.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The morning sun beat against the drawn window shades, filling the room with a dim, almost cathedral light.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
ETC
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AUTHOR OF "SINNERS," ETC.
faithfullyadverbUS /ˈfeɪθfəli/
in a faithful manner
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
fillingnounUS /ˈfɪlɪŋ/
any material that fills a space or container
From this reading The morning sun beat against the drawn window shades, filling the room with a dim, almost cathedral light.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was the usual sound of the busy city's street outside the window, for the morning was advancing, but here in the room it was very quiet.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading There was the usual sound of the busy city's street outside the window, for the morning was advancing, but here in the room it was very quiet.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The old man lay back in his chair asleep.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The old man lay back in his chair asleep.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was the usual sound of the busy city's street outside the window, for the morning was advancing, but here in the room it was very quiet.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The old man lay back in his chair asleep.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The morning sun beat against the drawn window shades, filling the room with a dim, almost cathedral light.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The old man lay back in his chair asleep.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The morning sun beat against the drawn window shades, filling the room with a dim, almost cathedral light.
neglectverbUS /nəˈɡlekt/
leave undone or leave out
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AUTHOR OF "SINNERS," ETC.
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old man lay back in his chair asleep.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading There was the usual sound of the busy city's street outside the window, for the morning was advancing, but here in the room it was very quiet.
performedverbUS /pərˈfɔːrmd/
past form of “perform” — carry out or perform an action
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading There was the usual sound of the busy city's street outside the window, for the morning was advancing, but here in the room it was very quiet.
resentverbUS /rɪˈzent/
feel bitter or indignant about
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The morning sun beat against the drawn window shades, filling the room with a dim, almost cathedral light.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
shadesnounUS /ʃeɪdz/
(plural) something that reminds you of someone or something
From this reading The morning sun beat against the drawn window shades, filling the room with a dim, almost cathedral light.
SINNERSnounUS /ˈsɪnərz/
plural of “sinner” — a person who sins (without repenting)
From this reading AUTHOR OF "SINNERS," ETC.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading There was the usual sound of the busy city's street outside the window, for the morning was advancing, but here in the room it was very quiet.
spluttered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading There was the usual sound of the busy city's street outside the window, for the morning was advancing, but here in the room it was very quiet.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The morning sun beat against the drawn window shades, filling the room with a dim, almost cathedral light.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The old man lay back in his chair asleep.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was the usual sound of the busy city's street outside the window, for the morning was advancing, but here in the room it was very quiet.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading There was the usual sound of the busy city's street outside the window, for the morning was advancing, but here in the room it was very quiet.
precisely as stated
From this reading There was the usual sound of the busy city's street outside the window, for the morning was advancing, but here in the room it was very quiet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was the usual sound of the busy city's street outside the window, for the morning was advancing, but here in the room it was very quiet.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading An oil lamp, which had performed its duty faithfully through the night, now seemed to resent its neglect, and spluttered angrily.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The morning sun beat against the drawn window shades, filling the room with a dim, almost cathedral light.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The morning sun beat against the drawn window shades, filling the room with a dim, almost cathedral light.
