used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I had been out of town for a time.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Though it was not more than ten o'clock, the lights were already out in the strictly-managed boarding-house.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I had been out of town for a time.
boarding-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though it was not more than ten o'clock, the lights were already out in the strictly-managed boarding-house.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading There was a row of brass candlesticks on the hall-table.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The man-servant wanted to give me one; but I was impatient, thanked him hurriedly and ran upstairs in the dark.
candlesticksnounUS /ˈkændəlstɪks/
plural of “candlestick” — a holder with sockets for candles
From this reading There was a row of brass candlesticks on the hall-table.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The man-servant wanted to give me one; but I was impatient, thanked him hurriedly and ran upstairs in the dark.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I had been out of town for a time.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had been out of town for a time.
hall-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a row of brass candlesticks on the hall-table.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The man-servant wanted to give me one; but I was impatient, thanked him hurriedly and ran upstairs in the dark.
hurriedlyadverbUS /ˈhɜːridli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading The man-servant wanted to give me one; but I was impatient, thanked him hurriedly and ran upstairs in the dark.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had been out of town for a time.
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading The man-servant wanted to give me one; but I was impatient, thanked him hurriedly and ran upstairs in the dark.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Though it was not more than ten o'clock, the lights were already out in the strictly-managed boarding-house.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Though it was not more than ten o'clock, the lights were already out in the strictly-managed boarding-house.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading Though it was not more than ten o'clock, the lights were already out in the strictly-managed boarding-house.
man-servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man-servant wanted to give me one; but I was impatient, thanked him hurriedly and ran upstairs in the dark.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The man-servant wanted to give me one; but I was impatient, thanked him hurriedly and ran upstairs in the dark.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Though it was not more than ten o'clock, the lights were already out in the strictly-managed boarding-house.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Though it was not more than ten o'clock, the lights were already out in the strictly-managed boarding-house.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Though it was not more than ten o'clock, the lights were already out in the strictly-managed boarding-house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I had been out of town for a time.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was a row of brass candlesticks on the hall-table.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The man-servant wanted to give me one; but I was impatient, thanked him hurriedly and ran upstairs in the dark.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I had been out of town for a time.
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The man-servant wanted to give me one; but I was impatient, thanked him hurriedly and ran upstairs in the dark.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading There was a row of brass candlesticks on the hall-table.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
strictly-managed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though it was not more than ten o'clock, the lights were already out in the strictly-managed boarding-house.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Though it was not more than ten o'clock, the lights were already out in the strictly-managed boarding-house.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
past form of “thank” — express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading The man-servant wanted to give me one; but I was impatient, thanked him hurriedly and ran upstairs in the dark.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a row of brass candlesticks on the hall-table.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though it was not more than ten o'clock, the lights were already out in the strictly-managed boarding-house.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I had been out of town for a time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading I had been out of town for a time.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
on a floor above
From this reading The man-servant wanted to give me one; but I was impatient, thanked him hurriedly and ran upstairs in the dark.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading The man-servant wanted to give me one; but I was impatient, thanked him hurriedly and ran upstairs in the dark.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Though it was not more than ten o'clock, the lights were already out in the strictly-managed boarding-house.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Though it was not more than ten o'clock, the lights were already out in the strictly-managed boarding-house.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading Returning to Paris a day sooner than I intended, I wished to give Rose the pleasure of an unexpected arrival and I went to see her that same evening.
