used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
ASSUMESverbUS /əˈsuːmz/
third-person singular of “assume” — take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
From this reading THE SHADOW ASSUMES SHAPE.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
BurtonnounUS /ˈbɜːrtən/
English explorer who with John Speke was the first European to explore Lake Tanganyika (1821-1890)
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
canenounUS /keɪn/
a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
comprehendverbUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhend/
get the meaning of something
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The moment you spoke the word 'haunted,' I knew how our investigations would end.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The storm had subsided into the monotonous patter of a steady rain.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading The moment you spoke the word 'haunted,' I knew how our investigations would end.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The moment you spoke the word 'haunted,' I knew how our investigations would end.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The storm had subsided into the monotonous patter of a steady rain.
investigationsnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃənz/
plural of “investigation” — an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading The moment you spoke the word 'haunted,' I knew how our investigations would end.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The moment you spoke the word 'haunted,' I knew how our investigations would end.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
set afire or burning
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
a particular point in time
From this reading The moment you spoke the word 'haunted,' I knew how our investigations would end.
monotonousadjectiveUS /məˈnɑːtənəs/
tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
From this reading The storm had subsided into the monotonous patter of a steady rain.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The storm had subsided into the monotonous patter of a steady rain.
on one occasion
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
patternounUS /ˈpætər/
plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson)
From this reading The storm had subsided into the monotonous patter of a steady rain.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The storm had subsided into the monotonous patter of a steady rain.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
seatsnounUS /siːts/
an area that includes places where several people can sit
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading THE SHADOW ASSUMES SHAPE.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading THE SHADOW ASSUMES SHAPE.
sofanounUS /ˈsoʊfə/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading The moment you spoke the word 'haunted,' I knew how our investigations would end.
make steady
From this reading The storm had subsided into the monotonous patter of a steady rain.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading The storm had subsided into the monotonous patter of a steady rain.
subsidedverbUS /səbˈsaɪdɪd/
past form of “subside” — wear off or die down
From this reading The storm had subsided into the monotonous patter of a steady rain.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SHADOW ASSUMES SHAPE.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We now lighted our lamp, and, finding a light cane sofa in the hall, nearly opposite the locked door, we took seats, and kept ourselves awake by talking.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The moment you spoke the word 'haunted,' I knew how our investigations would end.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The moment you spoke the word 'haunted,' I knew how our investigations would end.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I am surprised," said Mr. Burton, "that you did not at once comprehend the secret of this house.
