used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
altarnounUS /ˈɔːltər/
the table in Christian churches where communion is given
From this reading The scarlet glow he took to be the illumination under the altar of Buddha.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
angrilyadverbUS /ˈæŋɡrəli/
with anger
From this reading "Light the candles," he ordered angrily.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The scarlet glow he took to be the illumination under the altar of Buddha.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
BuddhanounUS /ˈbuːdə/
founder of Buddhism (c 563-483 BC)
From this reading The scarlet glow he took to be the illumination under the altar of Buddha.
the act of burning something
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
candlesnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading "Light the candles," he ordered angrily.
craternounUS /ˈkreɪtər/
a bowl-shaped geological formation at the top of a volcano
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
dozensnounUS /ˈdʌzənz/
a large number or amount
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
the organ of sight
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
start firing a weapon
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading The scarlet glow he took to be the illumination under the altar of Buddha.
glowedverbUS /ɡloʊd/
past form of “glow” — emit a steady even light without flames
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He heard a long sigh, a vague murmur of voices.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
illuminationnounUS /ˌɪluːməˈneɪʃən/
a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination
From this reading The scarlet glow he took to be the illumination under the altar of Buddha.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
immediately past
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading "Light the candles," he ordered angrily.
set afire or burning
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
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 He heard a long sigh, a vague murmur of voices.
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading He heard a long sigh, a vague murmur of voices.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading "Light the candles," he ordered angrily.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
pacesnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪz/
plural of “pace” — the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
participate in games or sport
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
scarletnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading The scarlet glow he took to be the illumination under the altar of Buddha.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading He heard a long sigh, a vague murmur of voices.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The scarlet glow he took to be the illumination under the altar of Buddha.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The scarlet glow he took to be the illumination under the altar of Buddha.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The scarlet glow he took to be the illumination under the altar of Buddha.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading He heard a long sigh, a vague murmur of voices.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He heard a long sigh, a vague murmur of voices.
volcanonounUS /vɑːlˈkeɪnoʊ/
a fissure in the earth's crust (or in the surface of some other planet) through which molten lava and gases erupt
From this reading An eye, red like the play of fire about a distant volcano crater, glowed a number of paces in front of him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
at the time that
From this reading But not a candle, of the dozens that had been burning when he last went out of this room, was now lighted.
