used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
afaradverbUS /əˈfɑːr/
(old-fashioned) at or from or to a great distance; far
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
in the past
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Mrs. Rawber heard it in her back bedroom on the ground floor.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading Mrs. Rawber heard it in her back bedroom on the ground floor.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
Cibber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
clamourverbUS /ˈklæmər/
utter or proclaim insistently and noisily
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
deepestadjectiveUS /ˈdiːpəst/
superlative of “deep” — relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
divisible by two
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
every-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Mrs. Rawber heard it in her back bedroom on the ground floor.
freezingnounUS /ˈfriːzɪŋ/
the withdrawal of heat to change something from a liquid to a solid
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Mrs. Rawber heard it in her back bedroom on the ground floor.
half-awakened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Mrs. Rawber heard it in her back bedroom on the ground floor.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Rawber heard it in her back bedroom on the ground floor.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Rawber heard it in her back bedroom on the ground floor.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
lodging-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
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 Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Rawber heard it in her back bedroom on the ground floor.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading MURDER.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mrs. Rawber heard it in her back bedroom on the ground floor.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
having or expressing strong emotions
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
Rawber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Rawber heard it in her back bedroom on the ground floor.
recurring again and again
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
scaredadjectiveUS /skerd/
made afraid
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
sleepersnounUS /ˈsliːpərz/
plural of “sleeper” — a rester who is sleeping
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
the state of being asleep
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
slumbernounUS /ˈslʌmbər/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
not in physical motion
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
thrillingadjectiveUS /ˈθrɪlɪŋ/
causing a surge of emotion or excitement
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
veinsnounUS /veɪnz/
plural of “vein” — a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But what a word shouted in the dead of night, through the close darkness of a sleeping house, thrilling the ear of slumber, freezing the blood in the half-awakened sleepers’ veins.
at the time that
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Such a shout--repeated with passionate clamour--scared the inhabitants of the Cibber Street lodging-house at three o’clock in the winter morning, still dark as deepest night.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Murder! an awful word under the most ordinary circumstances of every-day life--an awful word even when spoken of an event that happened long ago, or afar off.
