used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading It was to a warm, comfortable house she came, not the deserted one with the drawn down blinds which she was accustomed to see.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was conducted up an old-fashioned broad stair; the whole interior was in the style of the old town-houses of the beginning of last century.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading Margrete Roey was much astonished at being summoned on such a day.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Margrete Roey was much astonished at being summoned on such a day.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading She was conducted up an old-fashioned broad stair; the whole interior was in the style of the old town-houses of the beginning of last century.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Margrete Roey was much astonished at being summoned on such a day.
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading It was to a warm, comfortable house she came, not the deserted one with the drawn down blinds which she was accustomed to see.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading She was conducted up an old-fashioned broad stair; the whole interior was in the style of the old town-houses of the beginning of last century.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The fjords were not yet frozen over, so the steamer managed to reach town, but had to remain there.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was to a warm, comfortable house she came, not the deserted one with the drawn down blinds which she was accustomed to see.
a period of 100 years
From this reading She was conducted up an old-fashioned broad stair; the whole interior was in the style of the old town-houses of the beginning of last century.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading It was to a warm, comfortable house she came, not the deserted one with the drawn down blinds which she was accustomed to see.
conductedverbUS /kənˈdʌktəd/
past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading She was conducted up an old-fashioned broad stair; the whole interior was in the style of the old town-houses of the beginning of last century.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Margrete Roey was much astonished at being summoned on such a day.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading It was to a warm, comfortable house she came, not the deserted one with the drawn down blinds which she was accustomed to see.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It was to a warm, comfortable house she came, not the deserted one with the drawn down blinds which she was accustomed to see.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading It was to a warm, comfortable house she came, not the deserted one with the drawn down blinds which she was accustomed to see.
fjordsnounUS /fjɔːrdz/
plural of “fjord” — a long narrow inlet of the sea between steep cliffs; common in Norway
From this reading The fjords were not yet frozen over, so the steamer managed to reach town, but had to remain there.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading The fjords were not yet frozen over, so the steamer managed to reach town, but had to remain there.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was to a warm, comfortable house she came, not the deserted one with the drawn down blinds which she was accustomed to see.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading She was conducted up an old-fashioned broad stair; the whole interior was in the style of the old town-houses of the beginning of last century.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was to a warm, comfortable house she came, not the deserted one with the drawn down blinds which she was accustomed to see.
immediately past
From this reading She was conducted up an old-fashioned broad stair; the whole interior was in the style of the old town-houses of the beginning of last century.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading The fjords were not yet frozen over, so the steamer managed to reach town, but had to remain there.
Margrete
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Margrete Roey was much astonished at being summoned on such a day.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Margrete Roey was much astonished at being summoned on such a day.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The fjords were not yet frozen over, so the steamer managed to reach town, but had to remain there.
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was conducted up an old-fashioned broad stair; the whole interior was in the style of the old town-houses of the beginning of last century.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She was conducted up an old-fashioned broad stair; the whole interior was in the style of the old town-houses of the beginning of last century.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading She was conducted up an old-fashioned broad stair; the whole interior was in the style of the old town-houses of the beginning of last century.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Margrete Roey was much astonished at being summoned on such a day.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was to a warm, comfortable house she came, not the deserted one with the drawn down blinds which she was accustomed to see.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The fjords were not yet frozen over, so the steamer managed to reach town, but had to remain there.
the local environment
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The fjords were not yet frozen over, so the steamer managed to reach town, but had to remain there.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The fjords were not yet frozen over, so the steamer managed to reach town, but had to remain there.
Roey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Margrete Roey was much astonished at being summoned on such a day.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was to a warm, comfortable house she came, not the deserted one with the drawn down blinds which she was accustomed to see.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was to a warm, comfortable house she came, not the deserted one with the drawn down blinds which she was accustomed to see.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The fjords were not yet frozen over, so the steamer managed to reach town, but had to remain there.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading She was conducted up an old-fashioned broad stair; the whole interior was in the style of the old town-houses of the beginning of last century.
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading The fjords were not yet frozen over, so the steamer managed to reach town, but had to remain there.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She was conducted up an old-fashioned broad stair; the whole interior was in the style of the old town-houses of the beginning of last century.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Margrete Roey was much astonished at being summoned on such a day.
summonedverbUS /ˈsʌmənd/
past form of “summon” — call in an official matter, such as to attend court
From this reading Margrete Roey was much astonished at being summoned on such a day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The fjords were not yet frozen over, so the steamer managed to reach town, but had to remain there.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
town-houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was conducted up an old-fashioned broad stair; the whole interior was in the style of the old town-houses of the beginning of last century.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She was conducted up an old-fashioned broad stair; the whole interior was in the style of the old town-houses of the beginning of last century.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading It was to a warm, comfortable house she came, not the deserted one with the drawn down blinds which she was accustomed to see.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Margrete Roey was much astonished at being summoned on such a day.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The fjords were not yet frozen over, so the steamer managed to reach town, but had to remain there.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was to a warm, comfortable house she came, not the deserted one with the drawn down blinds which she was accustomed to see.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading She was conducted up an old-fashioned broad stair; the whole interior was in the style of the old town-houses of the beginning of last century.
wildestadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪldɪst/
superlative of “wild” — marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was to a warm, comfortable house she came, not the deserted one with the drawn down blinds which she was accustomed to see.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading A week later Mary went to town--in the wildest November storm, the worst they had had in these parts.
but in spite of that
From this reading The fjords were not yet frozen over, so the steamer managed to reach town, but had to remain there.
