used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THERE was some coal in the coal-box and a bundle of wood in the grate.
acceptableadjectiveUS /ækˈseptəbəl/
worthy of acceptance or satisfactory
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
in addition
From this reading He would also be condemned to fast, for the remains of food upon the table he could not touch.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading One does not eat where a leper has fed, or an unclean beast.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THERE was some coal in the coal-box and a bundle of wood in the grate.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He would also be condemned to fast, for the remains of food upon the table he could not touch.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading One does not eat where a leper has fed, or an unclean beast.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading THERE was some coal in the coal-box and a bundle of wood in the grate.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
not characterized by emotion
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
coalnounUS /koʊl/
fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading THERE was some coal in the coal-box and a bundle of wood in the grate.
coal-box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THERE was some coal in the coal-box and a bundle of wood in the grate.
condemnedverbUS /kənˈdemd/
past form of “condemn” — express strong disapproval of
From this reading He would also be condemned to fast, for the remains of food upon the table he could not touch.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He would also be condemned to fast, for the remains of food upon the table he could not touch.
characterized by great determination
From this reading So he determined to do without a fire.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading So he determined to do without a fire.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One does not eat where a leper has fed, or an unclean beast.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
take in solid food
From this reading One does not eat where a leper has fed, or an unclean beast.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading He would also be condemned to fast, for the remains of food upon the table he could not touch.
fednounUS /fed/
any federal law-enforcement officer
From this reading One does not eat where a leper has fed, or an unclean beast.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
flickerverbUS /ˈflɪkər/
move back and forth very rapidly
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading He would also be condemned to fast, for the remains of food upon the table he could not touch.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He would also be condemned to fast, for the remains of food upon the table he could not touch.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading THERE was some coal in the coal-box and a bundle of wood in the grate.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One does not eat where a leper has fed, or an unclean beast.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So he determined to do without a fire.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THERE was some coal in the coal-box and a bundle of wood in the grate.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
lepernounUS /ˈlepər/
a person afflicted with leprosy
From this reading One does not eat where a leper has fed, or an unclean beast.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He would also be condemned to fast, for the remains of food upon the table he could not touch.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THERE was some coal in the coal-box and a bundle of wood in the grate.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One does not eat where a leper has fed, or an unclean beast.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading One does not eat where a leper has fed, or an unclean beast.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
any object that is left unused or still extant
From this reading He would also be condemned to fast, for the remains of food upon the table he could not touch.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So he determined to do without a fire.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading THERE was some coal in the coal-box and a bundle of wood in the grate.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He would also be condemned to fast, for the remains of food upon the table he could not touch.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THERE was some coal in the coal-box and a bundle of wood in the grate.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THERE was some coal in the coal-box and a bundle of wood in the grate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So he determined to do without a fire.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading He would also be condemned to fast, for the remains of food upon the table he could not touch.
uncleanadjectiveUS /ənˈkliːn/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading One does not eat where a leper has fed, or an unclean beast.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He would also be condemned to fast, for the remains of food upon the table he could not touch.
precisely as stated
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THERE was some coal in the coal-box and a bundle of wood in the grate.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
at the time that
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
in or at the place that
From this reading One does not eat where a leper has fed, or an unclean beast.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading So he determined to do without a fire.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading THERE was some coal in the coal-box and a bundle of wood in the grate.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The weather was chilly and a fire would have been very acceptable, but the flicker of it when dusk was drawing on might have been observed from outside.
