used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
breast-bone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
customaryadjectiveUS /ˈkʌstəmeri/
in accordance with convention or custom
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
wanted intensely
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
encouragedadjectiveUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒd/
inspired with confidence
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
endearmentnounUS /ɪnˈdɪrmənt/
the act of showing affection
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
divisible by two
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
apart from; not including
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
come together
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
not any; not one
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
not often
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
at the time that
From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
belonging to which person
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
