used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
anew
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
Byrne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Byrne followed her without comment, quite indifferent to their surroundings.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
ChicagonounUS /ʃəˈkɑːɡoʊ/
largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
commentnounUS /ˈkɑːment/
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading Byrne followed her without comment, quite indifferent to their surroundings.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
CynthianounUS /ˈsɪnθiə/
(Greek mythology) the virgin goddess of the hunt and the Moon; daughter of Leto and twin sister of Apollo; identified with Roman Diana
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
exploringverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “explore” — inquire into
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading What had thereafter happened to her was the first matter to him.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Byrne followed her without comment, quite indifferent to their surroundings.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
Gail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading What had thereafter happened to her was the first matter to him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Byrne followed her without comment, quite indifferent to their surroundings.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
indifferentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfrənt/
marked by a lack of interest
From this reading Byrne followed her without comment, quite indifferent to their surroundings.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
immediately past
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading What had thereafter happened to her was the first matter to him.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
not any; not one
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Byrne followed her without comment, quite indifferent to their surroundings.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading Byrne followed her without comment, quite indifferent to their surroundings.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Byrne followed her without comment, quite indifferent to their surroundings.
thereafteradverbUS /ðeˈræftər/
from that time on
From this reading What had thereafter happened to her was the first matter to him.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
vacantlyadverb
in a vacant manner
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What had thereafter happened to her was the first matter to him.
at the time that
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
in or at the place that
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Ruth, exploring the ruin, came upon a room which seemed to have been put in some sort of order, so far as she could see from the dim light which came through the doorway.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “No one will be likely to come in here,” Ruth said, and stepped into the house.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Ruth spoke to him again about the house, he replied vacantly; his mind was not here, but with Cynthia Gail, where he had last seen her in Chicago that Sunday night in January when they had parted.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Byrne followed her without comment, quite indifferent to their surroundings.
