used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading She stepped across the threshold into the subdued radiance, stood for a moment undecided, then:
(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 He crossed the threshold in silence, and divested her of the fur garment which was all sparkling with melting snow.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are you coming in?" she asked, cheerfully, quite aware of his ill-temper.
on or to one side
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Are you coming in?" she asked, cheerfully, quite aware of his ill-temper.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading "Are you coming in?" she asked, cheerfully, quite aware of his ill-temper.
for the reason that
From this reading "Because if you are, you may take off my coat for me."
the act of burning something
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
cheerfullyadverbUS /ˈtʃɪrfəli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading "Are you coming in?" she asked, cheerfully, quite aware of his ill-temper.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading "Because if you are, you may take off my coat for me."
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading "Are you coming in?" she asked, cheerfully, quite aware of his ill-temper.
connectingverbUS /kəˈnektɪŋ/
-ing form of “connect” — connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
placed crosswise
From this reading He crossed the threshold in silence, and divested her of the fur garment which was all sparkling with melting snow.
divestedverbUS /daɪˈvestɪd/
past form of “divest” — take away possessions from someone
From this reading He crossed the threshold in silence, and divested her of the fur garment which was all sparkling with melting snow.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
furnounUS /fɜːr/
the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
From this reading He crossed the threshold in silence, and divested her of the fur garment which was all sparkling with melting snow.
garmentnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənt/
an article of clothing
From this reading He crossed the threshold in silence, and divested her of the fur garment which was all sparkling with melting snow.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
hallwaynounUS /ˈhɔːlweɪ/
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Are you coming in?" she asked, cheerfully, quite aware of his ill-temper.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Because if you are, you may take off my coat for me."
ill-temper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Are you coming in?" she asked, cheerfully, quite aware of his ill-temper.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She stepped across the threshold into the subdued radiance, stood for a moment undecided, then:
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "Because if you are, you may take off my coat for me."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Because if you are, you may take off my coat for me."
meltingnounUS /ˈmeltɪŋ/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading He crossed the threshold in silence, and divested her of the fur garment which was all sparkling with melting snow.
a particular point in time
From this reading She stepped across the threshold into the subdued radiance, stood for a moment undecided, then:
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Because if you are, you may take off my coat for me."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Because if you are, you may take off my coat for me."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
go across or through
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "Are you coming in?" she asked, cheerfully, quite aware of his ill-temper.
radiancenounUS /ˈreɪdiːəns/
the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface
From this reading She stepped across the threshold into the subdued radiance, stood for a moment undecided, then:
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She stepped across the threshold into the subdued radiance, stood for a moment undecided, then:
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading He crossed the threshold in silence, and divested her of the fur garment which was all sparkling with melting snow.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading He crossed the threshold in silence, and divested her of the fur garment which was all sparkling with melting snow.
sparklingadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːrklɪŋ/
shining with brilliant points of light like stars
From this reading He crossed the threshold in silence, and divested her of the fur garment which was all sparkling with melting snow.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading She stepped across the threshold into the subdued radiance, stood for a moment undecided, then:
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
studionounUS /ˈstuːdioʊ/
workplace for the teaching or practice of an art
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading She stepped across the threshold into the subdued radiance, stood for a moment undecided, then:
carry out
From this reading "Because if you are, you may take off my coat for me."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She stepped across the threshold into the subdued radiance, stood for a moment undecided, then:
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading She stepped across the threshold into the subdued radiance, stood for a moment undecided, then:
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
undecidedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈsaɪdɪd/
not brought to a conclusion; subject to further thought
From this reading She stepped across the threshold into the subdued radiance, stood for a moment undecided, then:
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
in or at the place that
From this reading An electric lamp was burning in the hallway; he threw open the connecting doors of the studio where a light gleamed high on the ceiling, and stood aside for her to pass him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He crossed the threshold in silence, and divested her of the fur garment which was all sparkling with melting snow.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He crossed the threshold in silence, and divested her of the fur garment which was all sparkling with melting snow.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Are you coming in?" she asked, cheerfully, quite aware of his ill-temper.
