used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
at or in the front
From this reading Katherine shrank a little from the black entrance of the corridor, but her anxiety centred on the door ahead.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading Its ancient furniture still faded within stained walls.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading Katherine shrank a little from the black entrance of the corridor, but her anxiety centred on the door ahead.
for the reason that
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Originally it had been the custom for the head of the family to use that room.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Katherine shrank a little from the black entrance of the corridor, but her anxiety centred on the door ahead.
Blackburns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Katherine shrank a little from the black entrance of the corridor, but her anxiety centred on the door ahead.
centred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Katherine shrank a little from the black entrance of the corridor, but her anxiety centred on the door ahead.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading Katherine shrank a little from the black entrance of the corridor, but her anxiety centred on the door ahead.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading Originally it had been the custom for the head of the family to use that room.
the act of departing
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
descendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Katherine shrank a little from the black entrance of the corridor, but her anxiety centred on the door ahead.
enclosedadjectiveUS /enˈkloʊzd/
closed in or surrounded or included within
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Katherine shrank a little from the black entrance of the corridor, but her anxiety centred on the door ahead.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading Its ancient furniture still faded within stained walls.
a social unit living together
From this reading Originally it had been the custom for the head of the family to use that room.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Originally it had been the custom for the head of the family to use that room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Katherine shrank a little from the black entrance of the corridor, but her anxiety centred on the door ahead.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading Its ancient furniture still faded within stained walls.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Originally it had been the custom for the head of the family to use that room.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Originally it had been the custom for the head of the family to use that room.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Katherine shrank a little from the black entrance of the corridor, but her anxiety centred on the door ahead.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Originally it had been the custom for the head of the family to use that room.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
Katherine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Katherine shrank a little from the black entrance of the corridor, but her anxiety centred on the door ahead.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
a room where books are kept
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Katherine shrank a little from the black entrance of the corridor, but her anxiety centred on the door ahead.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
not any; not one
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Originally it had been the custom for the head of the family to use that room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Katherine shrank a little from the black entrance of the corridor, but her anxiety centred on the door ahead.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
OriginallyadverbUS /ərˈɪdʒənəli/
in an original manner
From this reading Originally it had been the custom for the head of the family to use that room.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
reluctantadjectiveUS /rɪˈlʌktənt/
unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Originally it had been the custom for the head of the family to use that room.
shelteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃeltərd/
protected from danger or bad weather
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading Katherine shrank a little from the black entrance of the corridor, but her anxiety centred on the door ahead.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
stainedadjectiveUS /steɪnd/
marked or dyed or discolored with foreign matter
From this reading Its ancient furniture still faded within stained walls.
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
not in physical motion
From this reading Its ancient furniture still faded within stained walls.
a state of acute pain
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Originally it had been the custom for the head of the family to use that room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
the act of using
From this reading Originally it had been the custom for the head of the family to use that room.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Its ancient furniture still faded within stained walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The large bedroom was there with its private hall beyond, and a narrow, enclosed staircase, descending to the library.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Its ancient furniture still faded within stained walls.
witnessedverbUS /ˈwɪtnəst/
past form of “witness” — be a witness to
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
a late time of life
From this reading For many years no one had slept in it, because it had sheltered too much suffering, because it had witnessed the reluctant spiritual departure of too many Blackburns.
