used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After several ineffectual attempts to light this, he discovered it was a safety-match.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After several ineffectual attempts to light this, he discovered it was a safety-match.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He threw it down, and then it occurred to him that he might have willed it lit.
attemptsnounUS /əˈtempts/
plural of “attempt” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading After several ineffectual attempts to light this, he discovered it was a safety-match.
the act of burning something
From this reading He did, and perceived it burning in the midst of his toilet-table mat.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading His perception of possibilities enlarged, and he felt for and replaced the candle in its candlestick.
candlesticknounUS /ˈkændəlstɪk/
a holder with sockets for candles
From this reading His perception of possibilities enlarged, and he felt for and replaced the candle in its candlestick.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading He caught it up hastily, and it went out.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did, and perceived it burning in the midst of his toilet-table mat.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading After several ineffectual attempts to light this, he discovered it was a safety-match.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He threw it down, and then it occurred to him that he might have willed it lit.
enlargedadjectiveUS /ˌenˈlɑːrdʒd/
(of an organ or body part) excessively enlarged as a result of increased size in the constituent cells
From this reading His perception of possibilities enlarged, and he felt for and replaced the candle in its candlestick.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading His perception of possibilities enlarged, and he felt for and replaced the candle in its candlestick.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His perception of possibilities enlarged, and he felt for and replaced the candle in its candlestick.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading He caught it up hastily, and it went out.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He threw it down, and then it occurred to him that he might have willed it lit.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After several ineffectual attempts to light this, he discovered it was a safety-match.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He threw it down, and then it occurred to him that he might have willed it lit.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He did, and perceived it burning in the midst of his toilet-table mat.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He did, and perceived it burning in the midst of his toilet-table mat.
ineffectualadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəˈfektʃuːəl/
not producing an intended effect
From this reading After several ineffectual attempts to light this, he discovered it was a safety-match.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading After several ineffectual attempts to light this, he discovered it was a safety-match.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading His perception of possibilities enlarged, and he felt for and replaced the candle in its candlestick.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading After several ineffectual attempts to light this, he discovered it was a safety-match.
provided with artificial light
From this reading He threw it down, and then it occurred to him that he might have willed it lit.
matnounUS /mæt/
a thick flat pad used as a floor covering
From this reading He did, and perceived it burning in the midst of his toilet-table mat.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading He did, and perceived it burning in the midst of his toilet-table mat.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He threw it down, and then it occurred to him that he might have willed it lit.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading He threw it down, and then it occurred to him that he might have willed it lit.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He did, and perceived it burning in the midst of his toilet-table mat.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He caught it up hastily, and it went out.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading He did, and perceived it burning in the midst of his toilet-table mat.
perceptionnounUS /pərˈsepʃən/
the representation of what is perceived; basic component in the formation of a concept
From this reading His perception of possibilities enlarged, and he felt for and replaced the candle in its candlestick.
possibilitiesnounUS /ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiz/
plural of “possibility” — a future prospect or potential
From this reading His perception of possibilities enlarged, and he felt for and replaced the candle in its candlestick.
replacedverbUS /ˌriːˈpleɪst/
past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading His perception of possibilities enlarged, and he felt for and replaced the candle in its candlestick.
safety-match
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After several ineffectual attempts to light this, he discovered it was a safety-match.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading After several ineffectual attempts to light this, he discovered it was a safety-match.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He threw it down, and then it occurred to him that he might have willed it lit.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He did, and perceived it burning in the midst of his toilet-table mat.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He threw it down, and then it occurred to him that he might have willed it lit.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading After several ineffectual attempts to light this, he discovered it was a safety-match.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading He threw it down, and then it occurred to him that he might have willed it lit.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After several ineffectual attempts to light this, he discovered it was a safety-match.
toilet-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did, and perceived it burning in the midst of his toilet-table mat.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He caught it up hastily, and it went out.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading After several ineffectual attempts to light this, he discovered it was a safety-match.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He caught it up hastily, and it went out.
willedverbUS /wɪld/
past form of “will” — decree or ordain
From this reading He threw it down, and then it occurred to him that he might have willed it lit.
