used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Early in the evening a fire had been lighted; for, although it was only May, it had been a chilly day.
alightverbUS /əˈlaɪt/
to come to rest, settle
From this reading Only one gas-jet was alight, and it was turned low—the room had almost an eerie look in the faint light.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Only one gas-jet was alight, and it was turned low—the room had almost an eerie look in the faint light.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Early in the evening a fire had been lighted; for, although it was only May, it had been a chilly day.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Only one gas-jet was alight, and it was turned low—the room had almost an eerie look in the faint light.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The fire had gone out, however, and Meg had not noticed this, though she had been staring hard at it most of the time.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The fire had gone out, however, and Meg had not noticed this, though she had been staring hard at it most of the time.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Early in the evening a fire had been lighted; for, although it was only May, it had been a chilly day.
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
bulrushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
not characterized by emotion
From this reading Early in the evening a fire had been lighted; for, although it was only May, it had been a chilly day.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Early in the evening a fire had been lighted; for, although it was only May, it had been a chilly day.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
EarlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Early in the evening a fire had been lighted; for, although it was only May, it had been a chilly day.
eerieadjectiveUS /ˈɪri/
suggestive of the supernatural; mysterious
From this reading Only one gas-jet was alight, and it was turned low—the room had almost an eerie look in the faint light.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Early in the evening a fire had been lighted; for, although it was only May, it had been a chilly day.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Only one gas-jet was alight, and it was turned low—the room had almost an eerie look in the faint light.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Early in the evening a fire had been lighted; for, although it was only May, it had been a chilly day.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Early in the evening a fire had been lighted; for, although it was only May, it had been a chilly day.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
gas-jet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only one gas-jet was alight, and it was turned low—the room had almost an eerie look in the faint light.
ghostlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊstli/
resembling or characteristic of a phantom
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The fire had gone out, however, and Meg had not noticed this, though she had been staring hard at it most of the time.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Early in the evening a fire had been lighted; for, although it was only May, it had been a chilly day.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The fire had gone out, however, and Meg had not noticed this, though she had been staring hard at it most of the time.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
hearthrugnoun
a rug spread out in front of a fireplace
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The fire had gone out, however, and Meg had not noticed this, though she had been staring hard at it most of the time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
intenselyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtensli/
to a high degree; extremely; in high concentration or density
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Early in the evening a fire had been lighted; for, although it was only May, it had been a chilly day.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Only one gas-jet was alight, and it was turned low—the room had almost an eerie look in the faint light.
set afire or burning
From this reading Early in the evening a fire had been lighted; for, although it was only May, it had been a chilly day.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Only one gas-jet was alight, and it was turned low—the room had almost an eerie look in the faint light.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
loomedverbUS /luːmd/
past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Only one gas-jet was alight, and it was turned low—the room had almost an eerie look in the faint light.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Early in the evening a fire had been lighted; for, although it was only May, it had been a chilly day.
MegnounUS /meɡ/
the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The fire had gone out, however, and Meg had not noticed this, though she had been staring hard at it most of the time.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The fire had gone out, however, and Meg had not noticed this, though she had been staring hard at it most of the time.
being perceived or observed
From this reading The fire had gone out, however, and Meg had not noticed this, though she had been staring hard at it most of the time.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The fire had gone out, however, and Meg had not noticed this, though she had been staring hard at it most of the time.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Only one gas-jet was alight, and it was turned low—the room had almost an eerie look in the faint light.
and nothing more
From this reading Early in the evening a fire had been lighted; for, although it was only May, it had been a chilly day.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The fire had gone out, however, and Meg had not noticed this, though she had been staring hard at it most of the time.
pampasnounUS /ˈpæmpəz/
the vast grassy plains of northern Argentina
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Only one gas-jet was alight, and it was turned low—the room had almost an eerie look in the faint light.
rumpledadjectiveUS /ˈrʌmpəld/
in disarray; extremely disorderly
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The fire had gone out, however, and Meg had not noticed this, though she had been staring hard at it most of the time.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading The fire had gone out, however, and Meg had not noticed this, though she had been staring hard at it most of the time.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The fire had gone out, however, and Meg had not noticed this, though she had been staring hard at it most of the time.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The fire had gone out, however, and Meg had not noticed this, though she had been staring hard at it most of the time.
thoughtfuladjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtfəl/
having intellectual depth
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The fire had gone out, however, and Meg had not noticed this, though she had been staring hard at it most of the time.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Only one gas-jet was alight, and it was turned low—the room had almost an eerie look in the faint light.
vasenounUS /veɪs/
an open jar of glass or porcelain used as an ornament or to hold flowers
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Meg was sitting on the drawing-room hearthrug, her head in her hands, her fair hair rumpled back from her forehead, her eyes, intensely thoughtful, fixed on the ashes in the grate.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
at the time that
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
in or at the place that
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading A great vase of pampas grass and bulrushes loomed tall and ghostly from the corner near the piano; and a wet, dull moon—when the drifting clouds permitted—looked in at a little side window where the blind was not drawn.
