used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DRAMA THAT WAS ACTED BEHIND THE SCENES.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading A DRAMA THAT WAS ACTED BEHIND THE SCENES.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
(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 Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
anguishnounUS /ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/
extreme mental distress
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
avenuesnounUS /ˈævənuːz/
plural of “avenue” — a line of approach
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
BEHINDprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A DRAMA THAT WAS ACTED BEHIND THE SCENES.
bewildermentnounUS /bɪˈwɪldərmənt/
confusion resulting from failure to understand
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
brightnessnounUS /ˈbraɪtnəs/
the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
BrightonnounUS /ˈbraɪtən/
a city in East Sussex in southern England that is a popular resort; site of the University of Sussex
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
the act of burning something
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
CedarsnounUS /ˈsiːdərz/
plural of “cedar” — any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
cheerilyadverb
in a cheerful manner
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
a female human offspring
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
DeferentialadjectiveUS /ˌdefərˈentʃəl/
showing deference
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
Desmond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
DRAMAnounUS /ˈdrɑːmə/
a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
From this reading A DRAMA THAT WAS ACTED BEHIND THE SCENES.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
escortedverbUS /eˈskɔːrtɪd/
past form of “escort” — accompany as an escort
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
grovesnounUS /ɡroʊvz/
United States general who served as military director of the atomic bomb project (1896-1970)
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
HillarynounUS /ˈhɪləri/
New Zealand mountaineer who in 1953 first attained the summit of Mount Everest with his Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay (born in 1919)
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
hothousenounUS /ˈhɑːthaʊs/
a greenhouse in which plants are arranged in a pleasing manner
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
located inward
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
Julia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
leaflessadjectiveUS /ˈliːfləs/
having no leaves
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
night-scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
on the contrary
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading A DRAMA THAT WAS ACTED BEHIND THE SCENES.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
stainlessnounUS /ˈsteɪnləs/
steel containing chromium that makes it resistant to corrosion
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A DRAMA THAT WAS ACTED BEHIND THE SCENES.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DRAMA THAT WAS ACTED BEHIND THE SCENES.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
Twickenham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Deferential servants came hurrying out as the carriage drove up; and Miss Hillary, seeing her home in all its accustomed brightness and comfort, felt a painful sense of bewilderment.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Mr. Hillary escorted his daughter and Julia Desmond back to Twickenham upon the day following that night-scene of anguish and terror.
vestibulenounUS /ˈvestɪbjuːl/
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A DRAMA THAT WAS ACTED BEHIND THE SCENES.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
at the time that
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
a Caucasian
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Lights were burning cheerily in the long range of lower windows, and in the vestibule and inner hall; and rare groups of stainless marble gleamed white against a background of bright hothouse flowers.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading They left Brighton rather late in the day, and arrived at the Cedars when the early winter evening had closed in upon the leafless avenues and groves about the old house.
