used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
in addition
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
make certain of
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading He clung to them—they were his badge of authority, of power.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
badgenounUS /bædʒ/
an emblem (a small piece of plastic or cloth or metal) that signifies your status (rank or membership or affiliation etc.)
From this reading He clung to them—they were his badge of authority, of power.
a flexible container with a single opening
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
casementnoun
a window sash that is hinged (usually on one side)
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
circledverbUS /ˈsɜːrkəld/
past form of “circle” — travel around something
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading He clung to them—they were his badge of authority, of power.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
elbownounUS /ˈelboʊ/
hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “Good lad!” he muttered.
gruntnounUS /ɡrʌnt/
the short low gruff noise of the kind made by hogs
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
keysnounUS /kiːz/
plural of “key” — metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
a boy or man
From this reading “Good lad!” he muttered.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading “Good lad!” he muttered.
oak-panelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/
unpleasantly
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
pillownounUS /ˈpɪloʊ/
a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading He clung to them—they were his badge of authority, of power.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
sightlessadjective
lacking sight
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
spaciousadjectiveUS /ˈspeɪʃəs/
very large in expanse or scope
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
young nobleman attendant on a knight
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
not in physical motion
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
testernounUS /ˈtestər/
someone who administers a test to determine your qualifications
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He clung to them—they were his badge of authority, of power.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He clung to them—they were his badge of authority, of power.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
unevenadjectiveUS /əˈniːvən/
not even or uniform as e.g. in shape or texture
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He clung to them—they were his badge of authority, of power.
in or at the place that
From this reading The Squire raised himself painfully on his elbow and hid the bag between pillow and tester, where he could assure himself of its presence by a touch.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading While he had them, sightless as he was, he was still master; about his room, the oak-panelled chamber, spacious but shabby, with the uneven floor and the low wide casement, the life of the house still circled.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then he sank back with a grunt of relief and his hand went to the keys, which also had their home under his pillow.
