used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
adjoiningverbUS /əˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjoin” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading Nurse and baby were sound asleep in the adjoining nursery.
Agnes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
Ashe'snounUS /ˈæʃəz/
possessive form of “ashe” — United States tennis player who was the first Black to win United States and English singles championships (1943-1993)
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
in a state of sleep
From this reading Nurse and baby were sound asleep in the adjoining nursery.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading Nurse and baby were sound asleep in the adjoining nursery.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Sometimes one dropped upon the bed and made mouths or crooked lean fingers at the convalescent.
bedchambernounUS /ˈbedtʃeɪmbər/
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
convalescentnounUS /ˌkɑːnvəˈlesənt/
a person who is recovering from illness
From this reading Sometimes one dropped upon the bed and made mouths or crooked lean fingers at the convalescent.
crookedadjectiveUS /ˈkrʊkəd/
having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned
From this reading Sometimes one dropped upon the bed and made mouths or crooked lean fingers at the convalescent.
curtainedadjective
furnished or concealed with curtains or draperies
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Sometimes one dropped upon the bed and made mouths or crooked lean fingers at the convalescent.
eastwardadjectiveUS /ˈiːstwərd/
moving toward the east
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
being one more than ten
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
divisible by two
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Sometimes one dropped upon the bed and made mouths or crooked lean fingers at the convalescent.
fitfuladjectiveUS /ˈfɪtfəl/
occurring in spells and often abruptly
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
fleeingverbUS /ˈfliːɪŋ/
-ing form of “flee” — run away quickly
From this reading Now and then they whispered something in fleeing or skulking past.
galenounUS /ɡeɪl/
a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
hostsnounUS /hoʊsts/
plural of “host” — a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Nurse and baby were sound asleep in the adjoining nursery.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Sometimes one dropped upon the bed and made mouths or crooked lean fingers at the convalescent.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Sometimes one dropped upon the bed and made mouths or crooked lean fingers at the convalescent.
mouthsnounUS /maʊðz/
plural of “mouth” — the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Sometimes one dropped upon the bed and made mouths or crooked lean fingers at the convalescent.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
night-lightnoun
light (as a candle or small bulb) that burns in a bedroom at night (as for children or invalids)
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now and then they whispered something in fleeing or skulking past.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading Nurse and baby were sound asleep in the adjoining nursery.
nurserynounUS /ˈnɜːrsəri/
a child's room for a baby
From this reading Nurse and baby were sound asleep in the adjoining nursery.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Sometimes one dropped upon the bed and made mouths or crooked lean fingers at the convalescent.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Sometimes one dropped upon the bed and made mouths or crooked lean fingers at the convalescent.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Now and then they whispered something in fleeing or skulking past.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
scurryingadjectiveUS /ˈskɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
skulkingnounUS /ˈskʌlkɪŋ/
evading duty or work by pretending to be incapacitated
From this reading Now and then they whispered something in fleeing or skulking past.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Now and then they whispered something in fleeing or skulking past.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes one dropped upon the bed and made mouths or crooked lean fingers at the convalescent.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Nurse and baby were sound asleep in the adjoining nursery.
specternounUS /ˈspektər/
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
not in physical motion
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Now and then they whispered something in fleeing or skulking past.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now and then they whispered something in fleeing or skulking past.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
unquietadjective
characterized by unrest or disorder
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Sometimes one dropped upon the bed and made mouths or crooked lean fingers at the convalescent.
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 Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
waveredverbUS /ˈweɪvərd/
past form of “waver” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
well-built
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even in the well-built house and curtained room, the night-light wavered in the unquiet air, sending fitful hosts of specter shadows scurrying over the ceiling and falling down the walls.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Nurse and baby were sound asleep in the adjoining nursery.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading Now and then they whispered something in fleeing or skulking past.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
Year'snounUS /jɪrz/
possessive form of “year” — a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading AT eleven o’clock of that New Year’s night the snow still fell, but the wind had increased to a gale, and shook the eastward windows of Agnes Ashe’s bedchamber.
