used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CONTRAST MEG awoke the next morning to the sound of dripping rain.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
adjoiningverbUS /əˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjoin” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
in addition
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had been dreaming of Friars Court, and had thought she was in the garden listening to the birds.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading A CONTRAST MEG awoke the next morning to the sound of dripping rain.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been dreaming of Friars Court, and had thought she was in the garden listening to the birds.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading She had been dreaming of Friars Court, and had thought she was in the garden listening to the birds.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
a youthful male person
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
bustlingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌsəlɪŋ/
full of energetic and noisy activity
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
chimedverbUS /tʃaɪmd/
past form of “chime” — emit a sound
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
CONTRASTnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading A CONTRAST MEG awoke the next morning to the sound of dripping rain.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading She had been dreaming of Friars Court, and had thought she was in the garden listening to the birds.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading She had been dreaming of Friars Court, and had thought she was in the garden listening to the birds.
drippingnounUS /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/
a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)
From this reading A CONTRAST MEG awoke the next morning to the sound of dripping rain.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
FriarsnounUS /ˈfraɪərz/
plural of “friar” — a male member of a religious order that originally relied solely on alms
From this reading She had been dreaming of Friars Court, and had thought she was in the garden listening to the birds.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading She had been dreaming of Friars Court, and had thought she was in the garden listening to the birds.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had been dreaming of Friars Court, and had thought she was in the garden listening to the birds.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had been dreaming of Friars Court, and had thought she was in the garden listening to the birds.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
immediately past
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading She had been dreaming of Friars Court, and had thought she was in the garden listening to the birds.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
MEGnounUS /meɡ/
the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading A CONTRAST MEG awoke the next morning to the sound of dripping rain.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A CONTRAST MEG awoke the next morning to the sound of dripping rain.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading A CONTRAST MEG awoke the next morning to the sound of dripping rain.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
not any; not one
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A CONTRAST MEG awoke the next morning to the sound of dripping rain.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading A CONTRAST MEG awoke the next morning to the sound of dripping rain.
move upward
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been dreaming of Friars Court, and had thought she was in the garden listening to the birds.
shineverbUS /ʃaɪn/
be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading A CONTRAST MEG awoke the next morning to the sound of dripping rain.
streamingadjectiveUS /ˈstriːmɪŋ/
exuding a bodily fluid in profuse amounts
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CONTRAST MEG awoke the next morning to the sound of dripping rain.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She had been dreaming of Friars Court, and had thought she was in the garden listening to the birds.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A CONTRAST MEG awoke the next morning to the sound of dripping rain.
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 Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had been dreaming of Friars Court, and had thought she was in the garden listening to the birds.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
at the time that
From this reading When she awoke she was listening to the rain.
in or to any place at all
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
a Caucasian
From this reading Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading A church clock chimed seven, but she was in no hurry to rise although she heard the little widow bustling about in the adjoining room which served for a parlour and kitchen, and last night for a bedroom also, for herself and her boy.
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 Instead of the sun streaming in, making the white wall gleam and shine, the dirty white curtains before her window were blowing on to her bed, and she could see nothing but grey wherever she looked.
