used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A LIFE-AND-DEATH STRUGGLE.
(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 They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
apprehensiveadjectiveUS /ˌæprɪˈhensɪv/
quick to understand
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
blottedverbUS /ˈblɑːtəd/
inflected form of “blot” — dry (ink) with blotting paper
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
put or send forth
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
deepenedverbUS /ˈdiːpənd/
past form of “deepen” — make more intense, stronger, or more marked
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
Finchley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
many times at short intervals
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
glancesnounUS /ˈɡlænsɪz/
plural of “glance” — a quick look
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
insistverbUS /ˌɪnˈsɪst/
be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
JeremiahnounUS /ˌdʒerəˈmaɪə/
(Old Testament) an Israelite prophet who is remembered for his angry lamentations (jeremiads) about the wickedness of his people (circa 626-587 BC)
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
the act of departing
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
LIFE-AND-DEATHadjective
vitally important
From this reading A LIFE-AND-DEATH STRUGGLE.
hear with intention
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/
forward in time or order or degree
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
ploddedverbUS /ˈplɑːdɪd/
inflected form of “plod” — walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
only a very short time before
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
shiveringnounUS /ˈʃɪvərɪŋ/
a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading A LIFE-AND-DEATH STRUGGLE.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
wayfarers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
which person or people
From this reading On the North Finchley Road it lay particularly thick, and the sky and surrounding space seemed to be blotted out--as they certainly were from two wayfarers who plodded their way slowly onward through the darkness.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading They were a man and a woman, who, although they were wrapped in gloom, cast apprehensive glances on all sides, and frequently stopped to listen for sounds of footsteps.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading It was an hour past midnight, and the fog had deepened so that a man could scarcely see a yard before him.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Jeremiah, my love," said the woman, shivering, "why did you insist upon our leaving our nice warm quarters on such a night?
