used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
Alison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alison saw him, therefore, before he was aware of her presence.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading Alison saw him, therefore, before he was aware of her presence.
for the reason that
From this reading She would never know, because she dared not refer, even indirectly, to that unlucky contretemps.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Alison saw him, therefore, before he was aware of her presence.
birchnounUS /bɜːrtʃ/
hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
contretempsnounUS /ˈkɑːntrətemps/
an awkward clash
From this reading She would never know, because she dared not refer, even indirectly, to that unlucky contretemps.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading She would never know, because she dared not refer, even indirectly, to that unlucky contretemps.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
effectiveadjectiveUS /ɪˈfektɪv/
producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
divisible by two
From this reading She would never know, because she dared not refer, even indirectly, to that unlucky contretemps.
felledverbUS /feld/
past form of “fell” — cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
foliagenounUS /ˈfoʊlɪdʒ/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
h-Iolaire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Alison saw him, therefore, before he was aware of her presence.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Alison saw him, therefore, before he was aware of her presence.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Alison saw him, therefore, before he was aware of her presence.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
indirectlyadverbUS /ˌɪndərˈektliː/
not in a forthright manner
From this reading She would never know, because she dared not refer, even indirectly, to that unlucky contretemps.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She would never know, because she dared not refer, even indirectly, to that unlucky contretemps.
lochnounUS /lɑːk/
a long narrow inlet of the sea in Scotland (especially when it is nearly landlocked)
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
meditatingverbUS /ˈmedəteɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “meditate” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading Was he thinking of yesterday—meditating some revenge?
nanounUS /nɑː/
a silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She would never know, because she dared not refer, even indirectly, to that unlucky contretemps.
not any; not one
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
pinenounUS /paɪn/
a coniferous tree
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Alison saw him, therefore, before he was aware of her presence.
referverbUS /rəˈfɜːr/
make reference to
From this reading She would never know, because she dared not refer, even indirectly, to that unlucky contretemps.
action taken in return for an injury or offense
From this reading Was he thinking of yesterday—meditating some revenge?
cut with a saw
From this reading Alison saw him, therefore, before he was aware of her presence.
scarletnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
screennounUS /skriːn/
a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She would never know, because she dared not refer, even indirectly, to that unlucky contretemps.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Was he thinking of yesterday—meditating some revenge?
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
stumpnounUS /stʌmp/
the base part of a tree that remains standing after the tree has been felled
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She would never know, because she dared not refer, even indirectly, to that unlucky contretemps.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Alison saw him, therefore, before he was aware of her presence.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Was he thinking of yesterday—meditating some revenge?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
unluckyadjectiveUS /ənˈlʌki/
having or bringing misfortune
From this reading She would never know, because she dared not refer, even indirectly, to that unlucky contretemps.
veilsnounUS /veɪlz/
plural of “veil” — a garment that covers the head and face
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
Windham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not difficult to find Captain Windham by the loch, for the delicate veils of birch foliage made no effective screen for his strong scarlet.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would never know, because she dared not refer, even indirectly, to that unlucky contretemps.
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 He was sitting a yard or two from the edge of Loch na h-Iolaire, on the stump of a felled pine, with his arms folded on his breast, staring at the water.
the day immediately before today
From this reading Was he thinking of yesterday—meditating some revenge?
