used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
from appearances alone
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
apprehensionnounUS /ˌæprɪˈhenʃən/
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading Beatrice shivered with apprehension wondering what was going to happen next.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It moved just as if a sudden draught had caught it—this strange will-o’-the-wisp at large in a country house.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
BeatricenounUS /ˈbiːətrəs/
the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading She could not move, she could not call out, for she was now past words.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading It moved just as if a sudden draught had caught it—this strange will-o’-the-wisp at large in a country house.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could not move, she could not call out, for she was now past words.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading It moved just as if a sudden draught had caught it—this strange will-o’-the-wisp at large in a country house.
dead-blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
draughtnounUS /dræft/
a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg
From this reading It moved just as if a sudden draught had caught it—this strange will-o’-the-wisp at large in a country house.
fascinatedadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəneɪtəd/
having your attention fixated as though by a spell
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
feedingnounUS /ˈfiːdɪŋ/
the act of consuming food
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She could not move, she could not call out, for she was now past words.
the act of departing
From this reading Beatrice shivered with apprehension wondering what was going to happen next.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It moved just as if a sudden draught had caught it—this strange will-o’-the-wisp at large in a country house.
come to pass
From this reading Beatrice shivered with apprehension wondering what was going to happen next.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It moved just as if a sudden draught had caught it—this strange will-o’-the-wisp at large in a country house.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It moved just as if a sudden draught had caught it—this strange will-o’-the-wisp at large in a country house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
and nothing more
From this reading It moved just as if a sudden draught had caught it—this strange will-o’-the-wisp at large in a country house.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It moved just as if a sudden draught had caught it—this strange will-o’-the-wisp at large in a country house.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She could not move, she could not call out, for she was now past words.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading It moved just as if a sudden draught had caught it—this strange will-o’-the-wisp at large in a country house.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Beatrice shivered with apprehension wondering what was going to happen next.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She could not move, she could not call out, for she was now past words.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She could not move, she could not call out, for she was now past words.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading She could not move, she could not call out, for she was now past words.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
move by turning over or rotating
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
cut with a saw
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
shiveredverbUS /ˈʃɪvərd/
past form of “shiver” — tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading Beatrice shivered with apprehension wondering what was going to happen next.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading It moved just as if a sudden draught had caught it—this strange will-o’-the-wisp at large in a country house.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading It moved just as if a sudden draught had caught it—this strange will-o’-the-wisp at large in a country house.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
the-wisp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It moved just as if a sudden draught had caught it—this strange will-o’-the-wisp at large in a country house.
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Beatrice shivered with apprehension wondering what was going to happen next.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Beatrice shivered with apprehension wondering what was going to happen next.
will-o
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It moved just as if a sudden draught had caught it—this strange will-o’-the-wisp at large in a country house.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But the peculiar dead-blue of the flame and its round shape did not fit in with this theory.
showing curiosity
From this reading Beatrice shivered with apprehension wondering what was going to happen next.
the words that are spoken
From this reading She could not move, she could not call out, for she was now past words.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The fire was apparently feeding upon nothing, and as Beatrice stood there fascinated she saw it roll a yard or two like a ball.
