used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I glanced about helplessly, and sprang to the door of the room to call back Farrell.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I glanced about helplessly, and sprang to the door of the room to call back Farrell.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading I glanced about helplessly, and sprang to the door of the room to call back Farrell.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was not in the upper hall, but as my eyes swept its length I remembered a half-burned candle in the chamber opposite.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By the time I returned with it lighted, the mantel had turned on its pivot, leaving the way clear.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I glanced about helplessly, and sprang to the door of the room to call back Farrell.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading He was not in the upper hall, but as my eyes swept its length I remembered a half-burned candle in the chamber opposite.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading He was not in the upper hall, but as my eyes swept its length I remembered a half-burned candle in the chamber opposite.
rid of obstructions
From this reading By the time I returned with it lighted, the mantel had turned on its pivot, leaving the way clear.
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading The narrow stair was vacant, stretching down into the black depths.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading I glanced about helplessly, and sprang to the door of the room to call back Farrell.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The narrow stair was vacant, stretching down into the black depths.
opinion or judgment
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
FarrellnounUS /ˈferɪl/
United States writer remembered for his novels (1904-1979)
From this reading I glanced about helplessly, and sprang to the door of the room to call back Farrell.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading I glanced about helplessly, and sprang to the door of the room to call back Farrell.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading By the time I returned with it lighted, the mantel had turned on its pivot, leaving the way clear.
half-burned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not in the upper hall, but as my eyes swept its length I remembered a half-burned candle in the chamber opposite.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading He was not in the upper hall, but as my eyes swept its length I remembered a half-burned candle in the chamber opposite.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was not in the upper hall, but as my eyes swept its length I remembered a half-burned candle in the chamber opposite.
helplesslyadverbUS /ˈhelpləsli/
in a helpless manner
From this reading I glanced about helplessly, and sprang to the door of the room to call back Farrell.
an opening into or through something
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was not in the upper hall, but as my eyes swept its length I remembered a half-burned candle in the chamber opposite.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The narrow stair was vacant, stretching down into the black depths.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading By the time I returned with it lighted, the mantel had turned on its pivot, leaving the way clear.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He was not in the upper hall, but as my eyes swept its length I remembered a half-burned candle in the chamber opposite.
the act of departing
From this reading By the time I returned with it lighted, the mantel had turned on its pivot, leaving the way clear.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading He was not in the upper hall, but as my eyes swept its length I remembered a half-burned candle in the chamber opposite.
set afire or burning
From this reading By the time I returned with it lighted, the mantel had turned on its pivot, leaving the way clear.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
mantelnounUS /ˈmæntəl/
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The narrow stair was vacant, stretching down into the black depths.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not in the upper hall, but as my eyes swept its length I remembered a half-burned candle in the chamber opposite.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading By the time I returned with it lighted, the mantel had turned on its pivot, leaving the way clear.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading He was not in the upper hall, but as my eyes swept its length I remembered a half-burned candle in the chamber opposite.
outwardadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtwərd/
relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
pivotverbUS /ˈpɪvət/
turn on a pivot
From this reading By the time I returned with it lighted, the mantel had turned on its pivot, leaving the way clear.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading He was not in the upper hall, but as my eyes swept its length I remembered a half-burned candle in the chamber opposite.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading By the time I returned with it lighted, the mantel had turned on its pivot, leaving the way clear.
revealingadjectiveUS /rɪˈviːlɪŋ/
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading I glanced about helplessly, and sprang to the door of the room to call back Farrell.
only a very short time before
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading I glanced about helplessly, and sprang to the door of the room to call back Farrell.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading The narrow stair was vacant, stretching down into the black depths.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading The narrow stair was vacant, stretching down into the black depths.
possessing sweep
From this reading He was not in the upper hall, but as my eyes swept its length I remembered a half-burned candle in the chamber opposite.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CONFESSION OF LOVE I could scarcely believe my eyes as the mantel swung slowly outward, revealing the black hole beyond.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading By the time I returned with it lighted, the mantel had turned on its pivot, leaving the way clear.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I glanced about helplessly, and sprang to the door of the room to call back Farrell.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading By the time I returned with it lighted, the mantel had turned on its pivot, leaving the way clear.
the topmost one of two
From this reading He was not in the upper hall, but as my eyes swept its length I remembered a half-burned candle in the chamber opposite.
vacantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪkənt/
void of intelligence or thought
From this reading The narrow stair was vacant, stretching down into the black depths.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was not in the upper hall, but as my eyes swept its length I remembered a half-burned candle in the chamber opposite.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading By the time I returned with it lighted, the mantel had turned on its pivot, leaving the way clear.
in the company of; together with
From this reading By the time I returned with it lighted, the mantel had turned on its pivot, leaving the way clear.
