used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In one of the highest and most substantial houses two young women sat at the casement of an upper window.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In one of the highest and most substantial houses two young women sat at the casement of an upper window.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
casementnoun
a window sash that is hinged (usually on one side)
From this reading In one of the highest and most substantial houses two young women sat at the casement of an upper window.
ChannelnounUS /ˈtʃænəl/
a path over which electrical signals can pass
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
dingiest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading St Malo was looking its dingiest.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
fouladjectiveUS /faʊl/
highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
depressingly dark
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading In one of the highest and most substantial houses two young women sat at the casement of an upper window.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading St Malo was looking its dingiest.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading St Malo was looking its dingiest.
Malo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading St Malo was looking its dingiest.
become covered with mist
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
mistsnounUS /mɪsts/
plural of “mist” — a thin fog with condensation near the ground
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
used to form the superlative
From this reading In one of the highest and most substantial houses two young women sat at the casement of an upper window.
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
absolutely essential
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
the middle of the day
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
odoursnounUS /ˈoʊdərs/
plural of “odour” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In one of the highest and most substantial houses two young women sat at the casement of an upper window.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading In one of the highest and most substantial houses two young women sat at the casement of an upper window.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading St Malo was looking its dingiest.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
substantialadjectiveUS /səbˈstænʃəl/
of considerable importance, size, or worth
From this reading In one of the highest and most substantial houses two young women sat at the casement of an upper window.
possessing sweep
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
thoroughfaresnounUS /ˈθɜːroʊferz/
plural of “thoroughfare” — a public road from one place to another
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
up to a particular time
From this reading A heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
toweringadjectiveUS /ˈtaʊərɪŋ/
of imposing height; especially standing out above others
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In one of the highest and most substantial houses two young women sat at the casement of an upper window.
unbearableadjectiveUS /ənˈberəbəl/
incapable of being tolerated or endured
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
the topmost one of two
From this reading In one of the highest and most substantial houses two young women sat at the casement of an upper window.
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 heavy rain had fallen during the night, and a mist clung to the muddy streets and grey walls till nearly noon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading St Malo was looking its dingiest.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading In order to explain the scream, it will be necessary to go back to the morning of the day on which this conversation took place.
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 In one of the highest and most substantial houses two young women sat at the casement of an upper window.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading In one of the highest and most substantial houses two young women sat at the casement of an upper window.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The little town, with its narrow thoroughfares and towering houses, was as gloomy as a city of the dead; foul odours rose on all sides, and would have been unbearable but for the cool breeze which swept in from the Channel, driving the mists and fog before it.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading In one of the highest and most substantial houses two young women sat at the casement of an upper window.
