used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE END OF THE YEAR AND OF THE POST-OFFICE.
ballsnounUS /bɔːlz/
plural of “ball” — round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
bay-window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
brightlyadverbUS /ˈbraɪtli/
with brightness
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading CHRISTMAS had come and gone, and it was the last day of the year.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading CHRISTMAS had come and gone, and it was the last day of the year.
cordnounUS /kɔːrd/
a line made of twisted fibers or threads
From this reading Margery sat watching it listlessly, swinging the curtain cord, and wondering what made the others so long.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Margery sat watching it listlessly, swinging the curtain cord, and wondering what made the others so long.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading CHRISTMAS had come and gone, and it was the last day of the year.
decorativeadjectiveUS /ˈdekrətɪv/
serving an esthetic rather than a useful purpose
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading THE END OF THE YEAR AND OF THE POST-OFFICE.
eying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
destroyed or killed
From this reading CHRISTMAS had come and gone, and it was the last day of the year.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading CHRISTMAS had come and gone, and it was the last day of the year.
heapingverbUS /ˈhiːpɪŋ/
-ing form of “heap” — bestow in large quantities
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading CHRISTMAS had come and gone, and it was the last day of the year.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
immediately past
From this reading CHRISTMAS had come and gone, and it was the last day of the year.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
listlesslyadverbUS /ˈlɪstləsli/
in a listless manner
From this reading Margery sat watching it listlessly, swinging the curtain cord, and wondering what made the others so long.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Margery sat watching it listlessly, swinging the curtain cord, and wondering what made the others so long.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Margery sat watching it listlessly, swinging the curtain cord, and wondering what made the others so long.
Margery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Margery sat watching it listlessly, swinging the curtain cord, and wondering what made the others so long.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE END OF THE YEAR AND OF THE POST-OFFICE.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Margery sat watching it listlessly, swinging the curtain cord, and wondering what made the others so long.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
pawverbUS /pɔː/
scrape with the paws
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
POST-OFFICE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE END OF THE YEAR AND OF THE POST-OFFICE.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Margery sat watching it listlessly, swinging the curtain cord, and wondering what made the others so long.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
without speaking
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
sillsnounUS /sɪlz/
United States operatic soprano (born in 1929)
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Margery sat watching it listlessly, swinging the curtain cord, and wondering what made the others so long.
not in physical motion
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
in a swift manner
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading Margery sat watching it listlessly, swinging the curtain cord, and wondering what made the others so long.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE END OF THE YEAR AND OF THE POST-OFFICE.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
Tommy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
Traddles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
a garment that covers the head and face
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CHRISTMAS had come and gone, and it was the last day of the year.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Margery sat watching it listlessly, swinging the curtain cord, and wondering what made the others so long.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Margery sat watching it listlessly, swinging the curtain cord, and wondering what made the others so long.
a Caucasian
From this reading The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
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 The fire burned brightly on the hearth, and the snow fell swiftly and silently outside, drifting like a white veil across the window, and heaping itself on the sills.
wistfullyadverbUS /ˈwɪstfəli/
in a wistful manner
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The Christmas tree still stood in the bay-window, and Tommy Traddles had not ceased to find delight in setting in motion with his paw the decorative balls within his reach on the lower limbs, and eying wistfully those that hung higher.
showing curiosity
From this reading Margery sat watching it listlessly, swinging the curtain cord, and wondering what made the others so long.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading THE END OF THE YEAR AND OF THE POST-OFFICE.
