Chapter VII · Chapter 7

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It was a pale September day.

lacking fresh air

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

a room used primarily for sleeping

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Bridget Cookson was sitting at a table a little way behind her, mending some gloves.

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

plural of “berry” — any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits; used as desserts or in making jams and jellies and preserves

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading She was standing at a window, listlessly staring at some houses opposite, and the unlovely strip of garden which lay between her and the houses.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

a city district of central London laid out in garden squares

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

fern of southeastern Asia; not hardy in cold temperate regions

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

Irish abbess; a patron saint of Ireland (453-523)

From this reading Bridget Cookson was sitting at a table a little way behind her, mending some gloves.

treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Bridget Cookson was sitting at a table a little way behind her, mending some gloves.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It was a pale September day.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

covered with a layer of dust

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

all things; all of a situation

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading She was standing at a window, listlessly staring at some houses opposite, and the unlovely strip of garden which lay between her and the houses.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

plural of “glove” — the handwear used by fielders in playing baseball

From this reading Bridget Cookson was sitting at a table a little way behind her, mending some gloves.

a low evergreen shrub of the family Ericaceae; has small bell-shaped pink or purple flowers

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She was standing at a window, listlessly staring at some houses opposite, and the unlovely strip of garden which lay between her and the houses.

a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading She was standing at a window, listlessly staring at some houses opposite, and the unlovely strip of garden which lay between her and the houses.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a pale September day.

immediately past

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading She was standing at a window, listlessly staring at some houses opposite, and the unlovely strip of garden which lay between her and the houses.

having no leaves

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

in a listless manner

From this reading She was standing at a window, listlessly staring at some houses opposite, and the unlovely strip of garden which lay between her and the houses.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Bridget Cookson was sitting at a table a little way behind her, mending some gloves.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

garments that must be repaired

From this reading Bridget Cookson was sitting at a table a little way behind her, mending some gloves.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

not any; not one

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading She was standing at a window, listlessly staring at some houses opposite, and the unlovely strip of garden which lay between her and the houses.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

above and across; more than

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading It was a pale September day.

an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

the place where some action occurs

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

the act of moving along swiftly (as before a gale)

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

the month following August and preceding October

From this reading It was a pale September day.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was standing at a window, listlessly staring at some houses opposite, and the unlovely strip of garden which lay between her and the houses.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading Bridget Cookson was sitting at a table a little way behind her, mending some gloves.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading She was standing at a window, listlessly staring at some houses opposite, and the unlovely strip of garden which lay between her and the houses.

past form of “sparkle” — reflect brightly

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

having a supporting base

From this reading She was standing at a window, listlessly staring at some houses opposite, and the unlovely strip of garden which lay between her and the houses.

(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder

From this reading She was standing at a window, listlessly staring at some houses opposite, and the unlovely strip of garden which lay between her and the houses.

not in physical motion

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

take away possessions from someone

From this reading She was standing at a window, listlessly staring at some houses opposite, and the unlovely strip of garden which lay between her and the houses.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading Bridget Cookson was sitting at a table a little way behind her, mending some gloves.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

in or at that place or location

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

without beauty or charm

From this reading She was standing at a window, listlessly staring at some houses opposite, and the unlovely strip of garden which lay between her and the houses.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was a pale September day.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Bridget Cookson was sitting at a table a little way behind her, mending some gloves.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading She was standing at a window, listlessly staring at some houses opposite, and the unlovely strip of garden which lay between her and the houses.

the act of rotating in a circle or spiral

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

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 She was standing at a window, listlessly staring at some houses opposite, and the unlovely strip of garden which lay between her and the houses.

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

in the company of; together with

From this reading But in the dingy bedroom of a dingy Bloomsbury hotel, with a film of fog over everything outside, there was no sun to be seen; the plane trees beyond the windows were nearly leafless; and the dead leaves scudding and whirling along the dusty, airless streets, under a light wind, gave the last dreary touch to the scene that Nelly Sarratt was looking at.

lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading In the country, among English woods and heaths the sun was still strong, and trees and bracken, withered heath, and reddening berries, burned and sparkled beneath it.