used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
AFTERprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading AFTER THE FIRE.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading So the engine was drawn back to the engine-house, the crowd dispersed, and in place of the old house there was a heap of half-burnt rafters and cinders.
the act of burning something
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
cindersnounUS /ˈsɪndərz/
plural of “cinder” — a fragment of incombustible matter left after a wood or coal or charcoal fire
From this reading So the engine was drawn back to the engine-house, the crowd dispersed, and in place of the old house there was a heap of half-burnt rafters and cinders.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading The next day the fire was the topic of conversation throughout the village.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading So the engine was drawn back to the engine-house, the crowd dispersed, and in place of the old house there was a heap of half-burnt rafters and cinders.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The next day the fire was the topic of conversation throughout the village.
dispersedadjectiveUS /dɪˈspɜːrst/
distributed or spread over a considerable extent
From this reading So the engine was drawn back to the engine-house, the crowd dispersed, and in place of the old house there was a heap of half-burnt rafters and cinders.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading So the engine was drawn back to the engine-house, the crowd dispersed, and in place of the old house there was a heap of half-burnt rafters and cinders.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading So the engine was drawn back to the engine-house, the crowd dispersed, and in place of the old house there was a heap of half-burnt rafters and cinders.
engine-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the engine was drawn back to the engine-house, the crowd dispersed, and in place of the old house there was a heap of half-burnt rafters and cinders.
drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
start firing a weapon
From this reading AFTER THE FIRE.
fire-engine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
form'snounUS /fɔːrmz/
possessive form of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
half-burnt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the engine was drawn back to the engine-house, the crowd dispersed, and in place of the old house there was a heap of half-burnt rafters and cinders.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading So the engine was drawn back to the engine-house, the crowd dispersed, and in place of the old house there was a heap of half-burnt rafters and cinders.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So the engine was drawn back to the engine-house, the crowd dispersed, and in place of the old house there was a heap of half-burnt rafters and cinders.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next day the fire was the topic of conversation throughout the village.
not any; not one
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading So the engine was drawn back to the engine-house, the crowd dispersed, and in place of the old house there was a heap of half-burnt rafters and cinders.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading So the engine was drawn back to the engine-house, the crowd dispersed, and in place of the old house there was a heap of half-burnt rafters and cinders.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
raftersnounUS /ˈræftərz/
plural of “rafter” — one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof
From this reading So the engine was drawn back to the engine-house, the crowd dispersed, and in place of the old house there was a heap of half-burnt rafters and cinders.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
savingnounUS /ˈseɪvɪŋ/
an act of economizing; reduction in cost
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
in the near future
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AFTER THE FIRE.
in or at that place or location
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading The next day the fire was the topic of conversation throughout the village.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So the engine was drawn back to the engine-house, the crowd dispersed, and in place of the old house there was a heap of half-burnt rafters and cinders.
topicnounUS /ˈtɑːpɪk/
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading The next day the fire was the topic of conversation throughout the village.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The next day the fire was the topic of conversation throughout the village.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading By the time the fire-engine reached the burning house, the flames were so far advanced that there was no chance of saving it.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading For form’s sake, a stream of water was thrown upon the flames from the well near by, but the supply was soon exhausted, and produced no effect whatever.
