used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Good-night," said Alwynne, and went up a shallow step or two.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
Alwynne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alwynne had gone to bed early.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Alwynne had gone to bed early.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The thin flame flickered between them, kindling odd lights in their eyes.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
confessedverbUS /kənˈfest/
past form of “confess” — confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
cousinsnounUS /ˈkʌzənz/
plural of “cousin” — the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
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 Alwynne had gone to bed early.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading The thin flame flickered between them, kindling odd lights in their eyes.
flickeredverbUS /ˈflɪkərd/
past form of “flicker” — move back and forth very rapidly
From this reading The thin flame flickered between them, kindling odd lights in their eyes.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Roger had followed her into the hall and was lighting it.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Alwynne had gone to bed early.
good-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Alwynne had gone to bed early.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Roger had followed her into the hall and was lighting it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The thin flame flickered between them, kindling odd lights in their eyes.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Roger had followed her into the hall and was lighting it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Roger had followed her into the hall and was lighting it.
kindlingnounUS /ˈkɪndlɪŋ/
material for starting a fire
From this reading The thin flame flickered between them, kindling odd lights in their eyes.
lightingnounUS /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
having abundant light or illumination
From this reading Roger had followed her into the hall and was lighting it.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading The thin flame flickered between them, kindling odd lights in their eyes.
not divisible by two
From this reading The thin flame flickered between them, kindling odd lights in their eyes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Good-night," said Alwynne, and went up a shallow step or two.
ringsnounUS /rɪŋz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
Roger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roger had followed her into the hall and was lighting it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Good-night," said Alwynne, and went up a shallow step or two.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading "Good-night," said Alwynne, and went up a shallow step or two.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading "Good-night," said Alwynne, and went up a shallow step or two.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The thin flame flickered between them, kindling odd lights in their eyes.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The thin flame flickered between them, kindling odd lights in their eyes.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The thin flame flickered between them, kindling odd lights in their eyes.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Alwynne had gone to bed early.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "Good-night," said Alwynne, and went up a shallow step or two.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Good-night," said Alwynne, and went up a shallow step or two.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She confessed to being tired, as she bade her cousins good-night, and, indeed, she had dark rings about her eyes; but her colour was brilliant as she waited at the foot of the stairs for her candle.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Good-night," said Alwynne, and went up a shallow step or two.
