used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There should be only enough light to see the expression on the face of the image.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading She laid it on top of Grandfather's desk.
drawernounUS /drɔːr/
a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
one or the other of two
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading There should be only enough light to see the expression on the face of the image.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading There should be only enough light to see the expression on the face of the image.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading There should be only enough light to see the expression on the face of the image.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
Grandfather'snounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “grandfather” — the father of your father or mother
From this reading She laid it on top of Grandfather's desk.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
half-darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a half-darkness, she thought, he would be more likely to speak.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In a half-darkness, she thought, he would be more likely to speak.
Hortense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
an iconic mental representation
From this reading There should be only enough light to see the expression on the face of the image.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
incensenounUS /ˌɪnˈsens/
a substance that produces a fragrant odor when burned
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
set down according to a plan
From this reading She laid it on top of Grandfather's desk.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading In a half-darkness, she thought, he would be more likely to speak.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In a half-darkness, she thought, he would be more likely to speak.
absolutely essential
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She laid it on top of Grandfather's desk.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
and nothing more
From this reading There should be only enough light to see the expression on the face of the image.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was really necessary to have a light in order to see what she was about, but a lamp or candle, either one, seemed out of place.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She laid it on top of Grandfather's desk.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading There should be only enough light to see the expression on the face of the image.
express in speech
From this reading In a half-darkness, she thought, he would be more likely to speak.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There should be only enough light to see the expression on the face of the image.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading In a half-darkness, she thought, he would be more likely to speak.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
the upper part of anything
From this reading She laid it on top of Grandfather's desk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
in or at the place that
From this reading "_This is what was inside,_"-- The little box of incense lay at the back of the drawer where Hortense had expected to find it.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In a half-darkness, she thought, he would be more likely to speak.
