used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was not a man to do anything impulsively, and the problem which faced him now was an unusual one.
Abbershaw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was not a man to do anything impulsively, and the problem which faced him now was an unusual one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading In ten minutes he was to meet Meggie and Anne Edgeware in the garden.
any thing at all
From this reading He was not a man to do anything impulsively, and the problem which faced him now was an unusual one.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He was not a man to do anything impulsively, and the problem which faced him now was an unusual one.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
Edgeware
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In ten minutes he was to meet Meggie and Anne Edgeware in the garden.
embersnounUS /ˈembərz/
plural of “ember” — a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading He was not a man to do anything impulsively, and the problem which faced him now was an unusual one.
fast-greying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
fire-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading In ten minutes he was to meet Meggie and Anne Edgeware in the garden.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
glowedverbUS /ɡloʊd/
past form of “glow” — emit a steady even light without flames
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had until then to make up his mind.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In ten minutes he was to meet Meggie and Anne Edgeware in the garden.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was not a man to do anything impulsively, and the problem which faced him now was an unusual one.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
impulsivelyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈpʌlsɪvli/
in an impulsive or impetuous way; without taking cautions
From this reading He was not a man to do anything impulsively, and the problem which faced him now was an unusual one.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
irresolutelyadverb
lacking determination or decisiveness
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
leathernounUS /ˈleðər/
an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
the act of departing
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
limpverbUS /lɪmp/
walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
liningnounUS /ˈlaɪnɪŋ/
a protective covering that protects an inside surface
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
engage in
From this reading He had until then to make up his mind.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was not a man to do anything impulsively, and the problem which faced him now was an unusual one.
mantelpiecenoun
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
come together
From this reading In ten minutes he was to meet Meggie and Anne Edgeware in the garden.
Meggie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In ten minutes he was to meet Meggie and Anne Edgeware in the garden.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading He had until then to make up his mind.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading In ten minutes he was to meet Meggie and Anne Edgeware in the garden.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not a man to do anything impulsively, and the problem which faced him now was an unusual one.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was not a man to do anything impulsively, and the problem which faced him now was an unusual one.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was not a man to do anything impulsively, and the problem which faced him now was an unusual one.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading He was not a man to do anything impulsively, and the problem which faced him now was an unusual one.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
rippedadjectiveUS /rɪpt/
stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
sparksnounUS /spɑːrks/
plural of “spark” — a momentary flash of light
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
not in physical motion
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading In ten minutes he was to meet Meggie and Anne Edgeware in the garden.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He had until then to make up his mind.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In ten minutes he was to meet Meggie and Anne Edgeware in the garden.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He had until then to make up his mind.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading He was not a man to do anything impulsively, and the problem which faced him now was an unusual one.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He had until then to make up his mind.
walletnounUS /ˈwɔːlət/
a pocket-size case for holding papers and paper money
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In ten minutes he was to meet Meggie and Anne Edgeware in the garden.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Five o’clock in the Morning George Abbershaw stood in front of the fire-place in his bedroom and looked down into the fast-greying embers amongst which some red sparks still glowed, and hesitated irresolutely.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading On the mantelpiece near his head lay a small leather wallet, the silk lining of which had been ripped open and something removed, leaving the whole limp and empty.
