used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was no mistake about it.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
gapingadjectiveUS /ˈɡeɪpɪŋ/
with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
glowingadjectiveUS /ˈɡloʊɪŋ/
highly enthusiastic
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
the act of departing
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
mantelshelf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
mirrorsnounUS /ˈmɪrərz/
plural of “mirror” — polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading There was no mistake about it.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
nippedverbUS /nɪpt/
inflected form of “nip” — squeeze tightly between the fingers
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no mistake about it.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
relit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
precisely, exactly
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
cut with a saw
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
sconcenounUS /skɑːns/
a shelter or screen providing protection from enemy fire or from the weather
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
carry out
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no mistake about it.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
thumbnounUS /θʌm/
the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
in the direction of
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
having passed out of existence
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no mistake about it.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
wicknounUS /wɪk/
any piece of cord that conveys liquid by capillary action
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
wicksnounUS /wɪks/
plural of “wick” — any piece of cord that conveys liquid by capillary action
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
winkverbUS /wɪŋk/
signal by winking
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
