used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
(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 It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The December night had closed in wet and wild around Thetford Towers.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The December night had closed in wet and wild around Thetford Towers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
baronetnounUS /ˈberənət/
a member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron but above a knight
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading SIR NOEL'S DEATH BED.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The December day had been overcast and gloomy, but the December night was stormy and wild.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The December day had been overcast and gloomy, but the December night was stormy and wild.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
chimneysnounUS /ˈtʃɪmniz/
plural of “chimney” — a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The December night had closed in wet and wild around Thetford Towers.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The December day had been overcast and gloomy, but the December night was stormy and wild.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading SIR NOEL'S DEATH BED.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading The December night had closed in wet and wild around Thetford Towers.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
gablesnounUS /ˈɡeɪbəlz/
plural of “gable” — the vertical triangular wall between the sloping ends of gable roof
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
gauntadjectiveUS /ɡɔːnt/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
depressingly dark
From this reading The December day had been overcast and gloomy, but the December night was stormy and wild.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The December night had closed in wet and wild around Thetford Towers.
hoaryadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːri/
showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
HugonounUS /ˈhjuːɡoʊ/
French poet and novelist and dramatist; leader of the romantic movement in France (1802-1885)
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The December night had closed in wet and wild around Thetford Towers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The December night had closed in wet and wild around Thetford Towers.
NOEL'SnounUS /noʊˈelz/
possessive form of “noel” — period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading SIR NOEL'S DEATH BED.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
overcastnounUS /ˈoʊvərkæst/
the state of the sky when it is covered by clouds
From this reading The December day had been overcast and gloomy, but the December night was stormy and wild.
peaksnounUS /piːks/
plural of “peak” — the most extreme possible amount or value
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
rook-infested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
term of address for a man
From this reading SIR NOEL'S DEATH BED.
smotheredadjectiveUS /ˈsmʌðərd/
held in check with difficulty
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
stacksnounUS /stæks/
a large number or amount
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
staunchadjectiveUS /stɔːntʃ/
firm and dependable especially in loyalty
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
stormyadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːrmi/
(especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion
From this reading The December day had been overcast and gloomy, but the December night was stormy and wild.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The December night had closed in wet and wild around Thetford Towers.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading A queer, massive, old house, built in the days of James the First, by Sir Hugo Thetford, the first baronet of the name, and as staunch and strong now as then.
Thetford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The December night had closed in wet and wild around Thetford Towers.
TowersnounUS /ˈtaʊərz/
plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading The December night had closed in wet and wild around Thetford Towers.
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 It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
turretsnounUS /ˈtɜːrəts/
plural of “turret” — a small tower extending above a building
From this reading It stood down in the low ground, smothered in trees, a tall gaunt, hoary pile of gray stone, all peaks, and gables, and stacks of chimneys, and rook-infested turrets.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The December day had been overcast and gloomy, but the December night was stormy and wild.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading The December night had closed in wet and wild around Thetford Towers.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The December night had closed in wet and wild around Thetford Towers.
