used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
airsnounUS /erz/
affected manners intended to impress others
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
from appearances alone
From this reading The physical presence was to him apparently the least of all.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
coolernounUS /ˈkuːlər/
a refrigerator for cooling liquids
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
darkeningadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənɪŋ/
becoming dark or darker as from waning light or clouding over
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
essencenounUS /ˈesəns/
the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
From this reading The essence of the girl, it seemed, was still with him.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
a young female
From this reading The essence of the girl, it seemed, was still with him.
destroyed or killed
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
only a very short time before
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The essence of the girl, it seemed, was still with him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The essence of the girl, it seemed, was still with him.
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 The physical presence was to him apparently the least of all.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading The physical presence was to him apparently the least of all.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading The physical presence was to him apparently the least of all.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading It remained.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
not in physical motion
From this reading The essence of the girl, it seemed, was still with him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
in or at that place or location
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
tiptoeverbUS /ˈtɪptoʊ/
walk on one's toes
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The physical presence was to him apparently the least of all.
twenty-fouradjectiveUS /ˈtwentifɔːr/
being four more than twenty
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
someone who visits
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
vitaladjectiveUS /ˈvaɪtəl/
urgently needed; absolutely necessary
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading As upon a former occasion some twenty-four hours before, "N. H." seemed hardly aware that his visitor had left, though this time there was the vital difference--that what was of value had not gone at all.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
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 He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The essence of the girl, it seemed, was still with him.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading He returned to his place at the open window of the darkening room, while night, with her cooler airs, passed over the world on tiptoe.
