used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
acknowledgedadjectiveUS /ækˈnɑːlɪdʒd/
recognized or made known or admitted
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
anew
From this reading Much as Charles regretted home, he rejoiced to see old Oxford again.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The first day of Michaelmas term is, to an undergraduate's furniture, the brightest day of the year.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Much as Charles regretted home, he rejoiced to see old Oxford again.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
barsnounUS /bɑːrz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights
From this reading The coals crackled and split, and threw up a white flame in strong contrast with the newly-blackened bars and hobs of the grate.
blazingadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪzɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
boilingnounUS /ˈbɔɪlɪŋ/
the application of heat to change something from a liquid to a gas
From this reading A shining copper kettle hissed and groaned under the internal torment of water at boiling point.
of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
brightestadjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtəst/
superlative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The first day of Michaelmas term is, to an undergraduate's furniture, the brightest day of the year.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading Much as Charles regretted home, he rejoiced to see old Oxford again.
coalsnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading The coals crackled and split, and threw up a white flame in strong contrast with the newly-blackened bars and hobs of the grate.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading The coals crackled and split, and threw up a white flame in strong contrast with the newly-blackened bars and hobs of the grate.
coppernounUS /ˈkɑːpər/
a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor
From this reading A shining copper kettle hissed and groaned under the internal torment of water at boiling point.
crackledverbUS /ˈkrækəld/
past form of “crackle” — make a crackling sound
From this reading The coals crackled and split, and threw up a white flame in strong contrast with the newly-blackened bars and hobs of the grate.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The first day of Michaelmas term is, to an undergraduate's furniture, the brightest day of the year.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first day of Michaelmas term is, to an undergraduate's furniture, the brightest day of the year.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading The coals crackled and split, and threw up a white flame in strong contrast with the newly-blackened bars and hobs of the grate.
set up or found
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading The first day of Michaelmas term is, to an undergraduate's furniture, the brightest day of the year.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading The coals crackled and split, and threw up a white flame in strong contrast with the newly-blackened bars and hobs of the grate.
groanedverbUS /ɡroʊnd/
past form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading A shining copper kettle hissed and groaned under the internal torment of water at boiling point.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Much as Charles regretted home, he rejoiced to see old Oxford again.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
hissedverbUS /hɪst/
past form of “hiss” — make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval
From this reading A shining copper kettle hissed and groaned under the internal torment of water at boiling point.
hobsnounUS /hɑːbz/
plural of “hob” — (folklore) a small grotesque supernatural creature that makes trouble for human beings
From this reading The coals crackled and split, and threw up a white flame in strong contrast with the newly-blackened bars and hobs of the grate.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Much as Charles regretted home, he rejoiced to see old Oxford again.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The coals crackled and split, and threw up a white flame in strong contrast with the newly-blackened bars and hobs of the grate.
internaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrnəl/
happening or arising or located within some limits or especially surface
From this reading A shining copper kettle hissed and groaned under the internal torment of water at boiling point.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first day of Michaelmas term is, to an undergraduate's furniture, the brightest day of the year.
kettlenounUS /ˈketəl/
a metal pot for stewing or boiling; usually has a lid
From this reading A shining copper kettle hissed and groaned under the internal torment of water at boiling point.
Michaelmasnoun
honoring the archangel Michael; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland
From this reading The first day of Michaelmas term is, to an undergraduate's furniture, the brightest day of the year.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Much as Charles regretted home, he rejoiced to see old Oxford again.
newly-blackened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The coals crackled and split, and threw up a white flame in strong contrast with the newly-blackened bars and hobs of the grate.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first day of Michaelmas term is, to an undergraduate's furniture, the brightest day of the year.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Much as Charles regretted home, he rejoiced to see old Oxford again.
OxfordnounUS /ˈɑːksfərd/
a city in southern England to the northwest of London; site of Oxford University
From this reading Much as Charles regretted home, he rejoiced to see old Oxford again.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading A shining copper kettle hissed and groaned under the internal torment of water at boiling point.
porternounUS /ˈpɔːrtər/
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
regrettedverbUS /rɪˈɡretɪd/
inflected form of “regret” — feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading Much as Charles regretted home, he rejoiced to see old Oxford again.
rejoicedverbUS /rɪˈdʒɔɪst/
past form of “rejoice” — feel happiness or joy
From this reading Much as Charles regretted home, he rejoiced to see old Oxford again.
scoutnounUS /skaʊt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Much as Charles regretted home, he rejoiced to see old Oxford again.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading A shining copper kettle hissed and groaned under the internal torment of water at boiling point.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
splitverbUS /splɪt/
separate into parts or portions
From this reading The coals crackled and split, and threw up a white flame in strong contrast with the newly-blackened bars and hobs of the grate.
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The coals crackled and split, and threw up a white flame in strong contrast with the newly-blackened bars and hobs of the grate.
a word or expression used for some particular thing
From this reading The first day of Michaelmas term is, to an undergraduate's furniture, the brightest day of the year.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first day of Michaelmas term is, to an undergraduate's furniture, the brightest day of the year.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading The coals crackled and split, and threw up a white flame in strong contrast with the newly-blackened bars and hobs of the grate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The first day of Michaelmas term is, to an undergraduate's furniture, the brightest day of the year.
tormentnounUS /ˈtɔːrment/
unbearable physical pain
From this reading A shining copper kettle hissed and groaned under the internal torment of water at boiling point.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A shining copper kettle hissed and groaned under the internal torment of water at boiling point.
undergraduate's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first day of Michaelmas term is, to an undergraduate's furniture, the brightest day of the year.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading A shining copper kettle hissed and groaned under the internal torment of water at boiling point.
accept gladly
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
a Caucasian
From this reading The coals crackled and split, and threw up a white flame in strong contrast with the newly-blackened bars and hobs of the grate.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The coals crackled and split, and threw up a white flame in strong contrast with the newly-blackened bars and hobs of the grate.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading The porter had acknowledged him at the gate, and the scout had smiled and bowed, as he ran up the worn staircase and found a blazing fire to welcome him.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading The first day of Michaelmas term is, to an undergraduate's furniture, the brightest day of the year.
