used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "It is an awful night," I said.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading "It is an awful night," I said.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He turned back and examined the carriage lamp.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading He turned back and examined the carriage lamp.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading He turned back and examined the carriage lamp.
start firing a weapon
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then for the only time in my life I saw him hesitate.
furiouslyadverbUS /ˈfjʊriəsli/
(of the elements) in a wild and stormy manner
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He turned back and examined the carriage lamp.
hesitateverbUS /ˈhezəteɪt/
pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading Then for the only time in my life I saw him hesitate.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then for the only time in my life I saw him hesitate.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "It is an awful night," I said.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then for the only time in my life I saw him hesitate.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It is an awful night," I said.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It is an awful night," I said.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading He turned back and examined the carriage lamp.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Then for the only time in my life I saw him hesitate.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Then for the only time in my life I saw him hesitate.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "It is an awful night," I said.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
and nothing more
From this reading Then for the only time in my life I saw him hesitate.
pillownounUS /ˈpɪloʊ/
a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
rugsnounUS /rʌɡz/
plural of “rug” — floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "It is an awful night," I said.
cut with a saw
From this reading Then for the only time in my life I saw him hesitate.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
spraynounUS /spreɪ/
a pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
carry out
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Then for the only time in my life I saw him hesitate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
torrentsnounUS /ˈtɔːrənts/
plural of “torrent” — a heavy rain
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He turned back and examined the carriage lamp.
except if; if not
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
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 Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I cannot offer you a bed unless you will take mine, but I can bring rugs and a pillow to the fire if you will lie there."
