used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
apexnounUS /ˈeɪpeks/
the highest point (of something)
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
banisters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
bunknounUS /bʌŋk/
a long trough for feeding cattle
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
cobwebnounUS /ˈkɑːbweb/
a fabric so delicate and transparent as to resemble a web of a spider
From this reading The port-hole windows were shrouded with rags of cobweb spotted with dead flies.
contractedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntræktəd/
reduced in size or pulled together
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It had felt far larger in the dark.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
dazzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəlɪŋ/
amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The port-hole windows were shrouded with rags of cobweb spotted with dead flies.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading It had felt far larger in the dark.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading It had felt far larger in the dark.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading The port-hole windows were shrouded with rags of cobweb spotted with dead flies.
floor-space
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had felt far larger in the dark.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
located inward
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
large or big relative to something else
From this reading It had felt far larger in the dark.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
go away from a place
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
lockernounUS /ˈlɑːkər/
a storage compartment for clothes and valuables; usually it has a lock
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
marginnounUS /ˈmɑːrdʒən/
the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
port-hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The port-hole windows were shrouded with rags of cobweb spotted with dead flies.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
RafflesnounUS /ˈræfəlz/
British colonial administrator who founded Singapore (1781-1826)
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
ragsnounUS /ræɡz/
plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading The port-hole windows were shrouded with rags of cobweb spotted with dead flies.
on the contrary
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
ship'snounUS /ʃɪps/
possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
shroudedverbUS /ˈʃraʊdɪd/
past form of “shroud” — cover as if with a shroud
From this reading The port-hole windows were shrouded with rags of cobweb spotted with dead flies.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
slopedadjective
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
spottedadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtɪd/
having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)
From this reading The port-hole windows were shrouded with rags of cobweb spotted with dead flies.
make square
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
express a supposition
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
the act of testing something
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
trianglesnounUS /ˈtraɪæŋɡəlz/
plural of “triangle” — a three-sided polygon
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
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 Moreover, the four walls, or rather the four triangles of roof, sloped so sharply to the apex of the tower as to leave an inner margin in which few grown persons could have stood upright.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The port-hole windows were shrouded with rags of cobweb spotted with dead flies.
at the time that
From this reading Trial by Raffles When I awoke it was dazzling daylight in the tower, and the little scene was quite a surprise to me.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The port-hole windows were shrouded with rags of cobweb spotted with dead flies.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The port-hole windows were shrouded with rags of cobweb spotted with dead flies.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading I suppose the floor-space was about twelve feet square, but it was contracted on one side by the well and banisters of a wooden staircase from the room below, on another by the ship's bunk, and opposite that by the locker on which I lay.
