used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Even while the house was still in darkness Lydia had recognized the outline of O'Bannon's head in a box across the house.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Even while the house was still in darkness Lydia had recognized the outline of O'Bannon's head in a box across the house.
AlbeenounUS /əlˈbiː/
United States dramatist (1928-)
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
anteroomnoun
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
BennettnounUS /ˈbenət/
United States aviator who (with Richard E. Byrd) piloted the first flight over the North Pole (1890-1928)
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Even while the house was still in darkness Lydia had recognized the outline of O'Bannon's head in a box across the house.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
Dorset
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
Eleanor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had seen it before she had seen Eleanor.
entr'actenoun
the interlude between two acts of a play
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
divisible by two
From this reading Even while the house was still in darkness Lydia had recognized the outline of O'Bannon's head in a box across the house.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Miss Bennett had stayed in the front of the box.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Even while the house was still in darkness Lydia had recognized the outline of O'Bannon's head in a box across the house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Even while the house was still in darkness Lydia had recognized the outline of O'Bannon's head in a box across the house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Even while the house was still in darkness Lydia had recognized the outline of O'Bannon's head in a box across the house.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She had seen it before she had seen Eleanor.
become part of; become a member of a group or organization
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
LydianounUS /ˈlɪdiə/
an ancient region on the coast of western Asia Minor; a powerful kingdom until conquered by the Persians in 546 BC
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
O'Bannon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even while the house was still in darkness Lydia had recognized the outline of O'Bannon's head in a box across the house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
operanounUS /ˈɑːprə/
a drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
outlinenounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading Even while the house was still in darkness Lydia had recognized the outline of O'Bannon's head in a box across the house.
involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
in the near future
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Even while the house was still in darkness Lydia had recognized the outline of O'Bannon's head in a box across the house.
red-lined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
red-silk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
retreatednounUS /riˈtriːtəd/
people who have retreated
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She had seen it before she had seen Eleanor.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
sofanounUS /ˈsoʊfə/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Miss Bennett had stayed in the front of the box.
not in physical motion
From this reading Even while the house was still in darkness Lydia had recognized the outline of O'Bannon's head in a box across the house.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Before the lights went up on the first entr'acte Lydia retreated to the little red-lined box of an anteroom and sank down on the red-silk sofa.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Even while the house was still in darkness Lydia had recognized the outline of O'Bannon's head in a box across the house.
which person or people
From this reading She and Miss Bennett had come alone to the opera; but Dorset and Albee, who was committed to some sort of political dinner first, were to join them presently.
