used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Sarah, and her assistants, had long been sleeping soundly, untroubled by any difficult questions of casuistry.
armchairnounUS /ˈɑːrmtʃer/
chair with a support on each side for arms
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
assistantsnounUS /əˈsɪstənts/
plural of “assistant” — a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading Sarah, and her assistants, had long been sleeping soundly, untroubled by any difficult questions of casuistry.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Sarah, and her assistants, had long been sleeping soundly, untroubled by any difficult questions of casuistry.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
Brambledene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT The fire burned low, in the study grate.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
casuistrynoun
argumentation that is specious or excessively subtle and intended to be misleading
From this reading Sarah, and her assistants, had long been sleeping soundly, untroubled by any difficult questions of casuistry.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Sarah, and her assistants, had long been sleeping soundly, untroubled by any difficult questions of casuistry.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
elbowsnounUS /ˈelboʊz/
plural of “elbow” — hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
at any time
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
start firing a weapon
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT The fire burned low, in the study grate.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT The fire burned low, in the study grate.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Sarah, and her assistants, had long been sleeping soundly, untroubled by any difficult questions of casuistry.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT The fire burned low, in the study grate.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
knellverbUS /nel/
ring as in announcing death
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Sarah, and her assistants, had long been sleeping soundly, untroubled by any difficult questions of casuistry.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT The fire burned low, in the study grate.
mantel-piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT The fire burned low, in the study grate.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
prospectsnounUS /ˈprɑːspekts/
plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading Sarah, and her assistants, had long been sleeping soundly, untroubled by any difficult questions of casuistry.
Rector's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
RectorynounUS /ˈrektəri/
an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
requiemnounUS /ˈrekwiəm/
a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
SarahnounUS /ˈserə/
(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading Sarah, and her assistants, had long been sleeping soundly, untroubled by any difficult questions of casuistry.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
the state of being asleep
From this reading Sarah, and her assistants, had long been sleeping soundly, untroubled by any difficult questions of casuistry.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
sonorouslyadverb
in a sonorous manner
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
soundlyadverbUS /ˈsaʊndli/
deeply or completely
From this reading Sarah, and her assistants, had long been sleeping soundly, untroubled by any difficult questions of casuistry.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT The fire burned low, in the study grate.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The black marble clock on the mantel-piece had struck midnight, more slowly and sonorously than it ever sounded the hour by day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT The fire burned low, in the study grate.
tickedverbUS /tɪkt/
past form of “tick” — make a clicking or ticking sound
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Each stroke had seemed a knell--a requiem to bright hopes and golden prospects; and now it slowly and distinctly ticked out the first hour of a new day.
untroubledadjectiveUS /ənˈtrʌbəld/
not beset by troubles or disturbance or distress
From this reading Sarah, and her assistants, had long been sleeping soundly, untroubled by any difficult questions of casuistry.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading THE VOICE IN THE NIGHT The fire burned low, in the study grate.
watchernounUS /ˈwɑːtʃər/
a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading The one solitary watcher beneath the roof of Brambledene Rectory sat huddled up in the Rector's large armchair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
