used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading I was in time to see the Countess escorted back across the court-yard by her husband.
anew
From this reading This could mean only that she was again to occupy her prison in the tower.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken out.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I was glad at least to know where she was, that I might imagine her in her surroundings, of which I had obtained so brief a glimpse.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken out.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken out.
of short duration or distance
From this reading I was glad at least to know where she was, that I might imagine her in her surroundings, of which I had obtained so brief a glimpse.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I was in time to see the Countess escorted back across the court-yard by her husband.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading This could mean only that she was again to occupy her prison in the tower.
female equivalent of a count or earl
From this reading I was in time to see the Countess escorted back across the court-yard by her husband.
court-yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was in time to see the Countess escorted back across the court-yard by her husband.
displaceverbUS /dɪˈspleɪs/
cause to move, usually with force or pressure
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken out.
escortedverbUS /eˈskɔːrtɪd/
past form of “escort” — accompany as an escort
From this reading I was in time to see the Countess escorted back across the court-yard by her husband.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading I was glad at least to know where she was, that I might imagine her in her surroundings, of which I had obtained so brief a glimpse.
a quick look
From this reading I was glad at least to know where she was, that I might imagine her in her surroundings, of which I had obtained so brief a glimpse.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I was in time to see the Countess escorted back across the court-yard by her husband.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken out.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading I was in time to see the Countess escorted back across the court-yard by her husband.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading I was glad at least to know where she was, that I might imagine her in her surroundings, of which I had obtained so brief a glimpse.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I was glad at least to know where she was, that I might imagine her in her surroundings, of which I had obtained so brief a glimpse.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken out.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading I was glad at least to know where she was, that I might imagine her in her surroundings, of which I had obtained so brief a glimpse.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading This could mean only that she was again to occupy her prison in the tower.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I was glad at least to know where she was, that I might imagine her in her surroundings, of which I had obtained so brief a glimpse.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken out.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
obstructionnounUS /əbˈstrʌkʃən/
any structure that makes progress difficult
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading I was glad at least to know where she was, that I might imagine her in her surroundings, of which I had obtained so brief a glimpse.
occupyverbUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪ/
keep busy with
From this reading This could mean only that she was again to occupy her prison in the tower.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I was glad at least to know where she was, that I might imagine her in her surroundings, of which I had obtained so brief a glimpse.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken out.
and nothing more
From this reading This could mean only that she was again to occupy her prison in the tower.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken out.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken out.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken out.
in the near future
From this reading Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken out.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading This could mean only that she was again to occupy her prison in the tower.
RAT-HOLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I was in time to see the Countess escorted back across the court-yard by her husband.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This could mean only that she was again to occupy her prison in the tower.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken out.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I was glad at least to know where she was, that I might imagine her in her surroundings, of which I had obtained so brief a glimpse.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading I was glad at least to know where she was, that I might imagine her in her surroundings, of which I had obtained so brief a glimpse.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken out.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This could mean only that she was again to occupy her prison in the tower.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This could mean only that she was again to occupy her prison in the tower.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I was in time to see the Countess escorted back across the court-yard by her husband.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading This could mean only that she was again to occupy her prison in the tower.
trenchernounUS /ˈtrentʃər/
someone who digs trenches
From this reading Presently my door opened slightly, that my breakfast might be passed in on a trencher; and again an hour later, that the trencher might be taken out.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was in time to see the Countess escorted back across the court-yard by her husband.
WATER-JUG
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
at the time that
From this reading THE RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
in or at the place that
From this reading I was glad at least to know where she was, that I might imagine her in her surroundings, of which I had obtained so brief a glimpse.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I was glad at least to know where she was, that I might imagine her in her surroundings, of which I had obtained so brief a glimpse.
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 RAT-HOLE AND THE WATER-JUG I had not been back in the little room a minute, when it occurred to me to reach through the window and displace the obstruction.
