used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
how long something has existed
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Lord Ashden was puzzled, and approaching more softly he gently pushed open the door of the room and looked within.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
Ashden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
next to; at the side of
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
plural of “direction” — a line leading to a place or point
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Lord Ashden was puzzled, and approaching more softly he gently pushed open the door of the room and looked within.
expressiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspresɪv/
characterized by expression
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
opinion or judgment
From this reading It was a pretty picture upon which his eyes rested, and one which he long remembered.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Lord Ashden was puzzled, and approaching more softly he gently pushed open the door of the room and looked within.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
harpnounUS /hɑːrp/
a chordophone that has a triangular frame consisting of a sounding board and a pillar and a curved neck; the strings stretched between the neck and the soundbox are plucked with the fingers
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a pretty picture upon which his eyes rested, and one which he long remembered.
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 And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
a boy or man
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
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 It was a pretty picture upon which his eyes rested, and one which he long remembered.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Lord Ashden was puzzled, and approaching more softly he gently pushed open the door of the room and looked within.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
a female domestic
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
MiltonnounUS /ˈmɪltən/
English poet; remembered primarily as the author of an epic poem describing humanity's fall from grace (1608-1674)
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Lord Ashden was puzzled, and approaching more softly he gently pushed open the door of the room and looked within.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
on-looker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Lord Ashden was puzzled, and approaching more softly he gently pushed open the door of the room and looked within.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading It was a pretty picture upon which his eyes rested, and one which he long remembered.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading It was a pretty picture upon which his eyes rested, and one which he long remembered.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading Lord Ashden was puzzled, and approaching more softly he gently pushed open the door of the room and looked within.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading Lord Ashden was puzzled, and approaching more softly he gently pushed open the door of the room and looked within.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading It was a pretty picture upon which his eyes rested, and one which he long remembered.
past form of “remind” — put in the mind of someone
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
RenewalnounUS /rɪˈnuːəl/
the conversion of wasteland into land suitable for use of habitation or cultivation
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading It was a pretty picture upon which his eyes rested, and one which he long remembered.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
Seldon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
with low volume
From this reading Lord Ashden was puzzled, and approaching more softly he gently pushed open the door of the room and looked within.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
having a supporting base
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
tinklingadjectiveUS /ˈtɪŋkəlɪŋ/
like the short high ringing sound of a small bell
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was a pretty picture upon which his eyes rested, and one which he long remembered.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And as he approached the room he was surprised to hear a faint tinkling sound as of some one running his fingers over the keys of an old piano.
well-knownadjectiveUS /ˈwelˈnoʊn/
widely or fully known
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Renewal of an Acquaintance Following Mrs. Seldon’s directions, Lord Ashden climbed the narrow stairs which led to the haunted chamber.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A fair, slender lad with a pale, expressive face, which reminded the silent on-looker of the well-known portrait of Milton at the age of twelve, was standing beside the old harp which had belonged to the poor, foolish maid of honor.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Lord Ashden was puzzled, and approaching more softly he gently pushed open the door of the room and looked within.
