used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Certainly Marcia could not be asleep at so early an hour; nor Heath, either.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
in a state of sleep
From this reading Certainly Marcia could not be asleep at so early an hour; nor Heath, either.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Certainly Marcia could not be asleep at so early an hour; nor Heath, either.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Ten o'clock was not late and yet both occupants of the house had gone upstairs.
bubblingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌbəlɪŋ/
emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Certainly Marcia could not be asleep at so early an hour; nor Heath, either.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Certainly Marcia could not be asleep at so early an hour; nor Heath, either.
Doanes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
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 Certainly Marcia could not be asleep at so early an hour; nor Heath, either.
one or the other of two
From this reading Certainly Marcia could not be asleep at so early an hour; nor Heath, either.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Ten o'clock was not late and yet both occupants of the house had gone upstairs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Ten o'clock was not late and yet both occupants of the house had gone upstairs.
HeathnounUS /hiːθ/
a low evergreen shrub of the family Ericaceae; has small bell-shaped pink or purple flowers
From this reading Certainly Marcia could not be asleep at so early an hour; nor Heath, either.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
HomesteadnounUS /ˈhoʊmsted/
the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Certainly Marcia could not be asleep at so early an hour; nor Heath, either.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Ten o'clock was not late and yet both occupants of the house had gone upstairs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She wondered at it.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Ten o'clock was not late and yet both occupants of the house had gone upstairs.
living-roomnoun
a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
Marcia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly Marcia could not be asleep at so early an hour; nor Heath, either.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Certainly Marcia could not be asleep at so early an hour; nor Heath, either.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Ten o'clock was not late and yet both occupants of the house had gone upstairs.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Ten o'clock was not late and yet both occupants of the house had gone upstairs.
occupantsnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənts/
plural of “occupant” — someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading Ten o'clock was not late and yet both occupants of the house had gone upstairs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ten o'clock was not late and yet both occupants of the house had gone upstairs.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She wondered at it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Certainly Marcia could not be asleep at so early an hour; nor Heath, either.
sociabilitynoun
the relative tendency or disposition to be sociable or associate with one's fellows
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
Sylvia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Ten o'clock was not late and yet both occupants of the house had gone upstairs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was unusual.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading This was unusual.
on a floor above
From this reading Ten o'clock was not late and yet both occupants of the house had gone upstairs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sylvia, bubbling over with sociability after her evening at the Doanes', was surprised, on reaching the Homestead, to find a lamp set in the window and the living-room empty.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading She wondered at it.
but in spite of that
From this reading Ten o'clock was not late and yet both occupants of the house had gone upstairs.
