used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was a bleak, stormy December evening, a week before Christmas.
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/
offering little or no hope
From this reading It was a bleak, stormy December evening, a week before Christmas.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading A bright fire was burning in the well-known parlor of Sunset Hall.
the act of burning something
From this reading A bright fire was burning in the well-known parlor of Sunset Hall.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading It was a bleak, stormy December evening, a week before Christmas.
CONFESSIONnounUS /kənˈfeʃən/
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading THE DEATH-BED CONFESSION.
DEATH-BED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DEATH-BED CONFESSION.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading It was a bleak, stormy December evening, a week before Christmas.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
easy-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading It was a bleak, stormy December evening, a week before Christmas.
start firing a weapon
From this reading A bright fire was burning in the well-known parlor of Sunset Hall.
flannelsnounUS /ˈflænəlz/
plural of “flannel” — a soft light woolen fabric; used for clothing
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
a quick look
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
goutyadjectiveUS /ˈɡaʊti/
suffering from gout
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading A bright fire was burning in the well-known parlor of Sunset Hall.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A bright fire was burning in the well-known parlor of Sunset Hall.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a bleak, stormy December evening, a week before Christmas.
set down according to a plan
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
staying power
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
literallyadverbUS /ˈlɪtərəli/
in a literal sense
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading A bright fire was burning in the well-known parlor of Sunset Hall.
randomadjectiveUS /ˈrændəm/
lacking any definite plan or order or purpose; governed by or depending on chance
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
reposing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
young nobleman attendant on a knight
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
stormyadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːrmi/
(especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion
From this reading It was a bleak, stormy December evening, a week before Christmas.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading A bright fire was burning in the well-known parlor of Sunset Hall.
swathedverbUS /swɑːðd/
past form of “swathe” — wrap in swaddling clothes
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DEATH-BED CONFESSION.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a bleak, stormy December evening, a week before Christmas.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading It was a bleak, stormy December evening, a week before Christmas.
well-knownadjectiveUS /ˈwelˈnoʊn/
widely or fully known
From this reading A bright fire was burning in the well-known parlor of Sunset Hall.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In his easy-chair, with his gouty legs, swathed in flannels, reposing on two others, lay our old friend the squire, literally "laid up by the legs."
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
wrecknounUS /rek/
something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
of very poor quality or condition
From this reading "Her wretched brain gave way, And she became a wreck, at random driven, Without one glimpse of reason or of Heaven."
