used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The curtain of vacuity parted just a crack--let through a gleam of intense intelligence.
(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 Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The goldsmith chuckled deeply, as if Harry had unwittingly perpetrated some joke--some particularly clever conjurer's trick.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
braziernounUS /ˈbreɪziər/
large metal container in which coal or charcoal is burned; warms people who must stay outside for long times
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
chuckledverbUS /ˈtʃʌkəld/
past form of “chuckle” — laugh quietly or with restraint
From this reading The goldsmith chuckled deeply, as if Harry had unwittingly perpetrated some joke--some particularly clever conjurer's trick.
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading The goldsmith chuckled deeply, as if Harry had unwittingly perpetrated some joke--some particularly clever conjurer's trick.
conjurer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The goldsmith chuckled deeply, as if Harry had unwittingly perpetrated some joke--some particularly clever conjurer's trick.
counternounUS /ˈkaʊntər/
table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading The curtain of vacuity parted just a crack--let through a gleam of intense intelligence.
cupboardnounUS /ˈkʌbərd/
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The curtain of vacuity parted just a crack--let through a gleam of intense intelligence.
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading The goldsmith chuckled deeply, as if Harry had unwittingly perpetrated some joke--some particularly clever conjurer's trick.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
FloranounUS /ˈflɔːrə/
all the plant life in a particular region or period
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The curtain of vacuity parted just a crack--let through a gleam of intense intelligence.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
the act of departing
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
goldsmithnounUS /ˈɡoʊldsmɪθ/
an artisan who makes jewelry and other objects out of gold
From this reading The goldsmith chuckled deeply, as if Harry had unwittingly perpetrated some joke--some particularly clever conjurer's trick.
grinningnounUS /ˈɡrɪnɪŋ/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The goldsmith chuckled deeply, as if Harry had unwittingly perpetrated some joke--some particularly clever conjurer's trick.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading The goldsmith chuckled deeply, as if Harry had unwittingly perpetrated some joke--some particularly clever conjurer's trick.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The goldsmith chuckled deeply, as if Harry had unwittingly perpetrated some joke--some particularly clever conjurer's trick.
incrediblyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbli/
not easy to believe
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
From this reading The curtain of vacuity parted just a crack--let through a gleam of intense intelligence.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading The curtain of vacuity parted just a crack--let through a gleam of intense intelligence.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading The goldsmith chuckled deeply, as if Harry had unwittingly perpetrated some joke--some particularly clever conjurer's trick.
and nothing more
From this reading The curtain of vacuity parted just a crack--let through a gleam of intense intelligence.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading The curtain of vacuity parted just a crack--let through a gleam of intense intelligence.
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 Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
by chance
From this reading "Maybe."
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The curtain of vacuity parted just a crack--let through a gleam of intense intelligence.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes
From this reading The curtain of vacuity parted just a crack--let through a gleam of intense intelligence.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading The goldsmith chuckled deeply, as if Harry had unwittingly perpetrated some joke--some particularly clever conjurer's trick.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
perpetratedverbUS /ˈpɜːrpətreɪtɪd/
past form of “perpetrate” — perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
From this reading The goldsmith chuckled deeply, as if Harry had unwittingly perpetrated some joke--some particularly clever conjurer's trick.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
do one's shopping
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
shuffledverbUS /ˈʃʌfəld/
past form of “shuffle” — walk by dragging one's feet
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
sidledverbUS /ˈsaɪdəld/
past form of “sidle” — move unobtrusively or furtively
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The goldsmith chuckled deeply, as if Harry had unwittingly perpetrated some joke--some particularly clever conjurer's trick.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
an idea that is suggested
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The curtain of vacuity parted just a crack--let through a gleam of intense intelligence.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The curtain of vacuity parted just a crack--let through a gleam of intense intelligence.
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading The goldsmith chuckled deeply, as if Harry had unwittingly perpetrated some joke--some particularly clever conjurer's trick.
unwittinglyadverbUS /ənˈwɪtɪŋli/
without knowledge or intention
From this reading The goldsmith chuckled deeply, as if Harry had unwittingly perpetrated some joke--some particularly clever conjurer's trick.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
vacuitynoun
the absence of matter
From this reading The curtain of vacuity parted just a crack--let through a gleam of intense intelligence.
vistanounUS /ˈvɪstə/
the visual percept of a region
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
in or at the place that
From this reading He sidled out behind the counter, past the grinning brazier, and shuffled into the back of the shop where he opened a door.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Flora had expected a cupboard, but the vista it gave upon was a long, black, incredibly narrow passage, that stretched away into gloom with all the suggestion of distance of a road going over a horizon.
