used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A candle burned on the chimney-piece, but its light was only feeble.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the bed lay a woman, wasted and weak, but at present sleeping, and there was no one else in the room.
in a state of sleep
From this reading The children had gone to bed and were asleep; the farmer was away at a meeting in the neighbouring village.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In the bed lay a woman, wasted and weak, but at present sleeping, and there was no one else in the room.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The children had gone to bed and were asleep; the farmer was away at a meeting in the neighbouring village.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading In the bed lay a woman, wasted and weak, but at present sleeping, and there was no one else in the room.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading The bedroom was still.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Downstairs, supper was being served to the workers, and in the small sitting-room the more grown-up members of the family sat.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading A candle burned on the chimney-piece, but its light was only feeble.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A candle burned on the chimney-piece, but its light was only feeble.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading A candle burned on the chimney-piece, but its light was only feeble.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The children had gone to bed and were asleep; the farmer was away at a meeting in the neighbouring village.
chimney-piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A candle burned on the chimney-piece, but its light was only feeble.
DownstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading Downstairs, supper was being served to the workers, and in the small sitting-room the more grown-up members of the family sat.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the bed lay a woman, wasted and weak, but at present sleeping, and there was no one else in the room.
a social unit living together
From this reading Downstairs, supper was being served to the workers, and in the small sitting-room the more grown-up members of the family sat.
a person who operates a farm
From this reading The children had gone to bed and were asleep; the farmer was away at a meeting in the neighbouring village.
feebleadjectiveUS /ˈfiːbəl/
pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
From this reading A candle burned on the chimney-piece, but its light was only feeble.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The children had gone to bed and were asleep; the farmer was away at a meeting in the neighbouring village.
grown-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Downstairs, supper was being served to the workers, and in the small sitting-room the more grown-up members of the family sat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The children had gone to bed and were asleep; the farmer was away at a meeting in the neighbouring village.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the bed lay a woman, wasted and weak, but at present sleeping, and there was no one else in the room.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A candle burned on the chimney-piece, but its light was only feeble.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In the bed lay a woman, wasted and weak, but at present sleeping, and there was no one else in the room.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A candle burned on the chimney-piece, but its light was only feeble.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading The children had gone to bed and were asleep; the farmer was away at a meeting in the neighbouring village.
plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading Downstairs, supper was being served to the workers, and in the small sitting-room the more grown-up members of the family sat.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Downstairs, supper was being served to the workers, and in the small sitting-room the more grown-up members of the family sat.
neighbouringverbUS /ˈneɪbərɪŋ/
-ing form of “neighbour” — live or be located as a neighbor
From this reading The children had gone to bed and were asleep; the farmer was away at a meeting in the neighbouring village.
not any; not one
From this reading In the bed lay a woman, wasted and weak, but at present sleeping, and there was no one else in the room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Downstairs, supper was being served to the workers, and in the small sitting-room the more grown-up members of the family sat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A candle burned on the chimney-piece, but its light was only feeble.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In the bed lay a woman, wasted and weak, but at present sleeping, and there was no one else in the room.
and nothing more
From this reading A candle burned on the chimney-piece, but its light was only feeble.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading In the bed lay a woman, wasted and weak, but at present sleeping, and there was no one else in the room.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In the bed lay a woman, wasted and weak, but at present sleeping, and there was no one else in the room.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Downstairs, supper was being served to the workers, and in the small sitting-room the more grown-up members of the family sat.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading Downstairs, supper was being served to the workers, and in the small sitting-room the more grown-up members of the family sat.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Downstairs, supper was being served to the workers, and in the small sitting-room the more grown-up members of the family sat.
the state of being asleep
From this reading In the bed lay a woman, wasted and weak, but at present sleeping, and there was no one else in the room.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Downstairs, supper was being served to the workers, and in the small sitting-room the more grown-up members of the family sat.
not in physical motion
From this reading The bedroom was still.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Downstairs, supper was being served to the workers, and in the small sitting-room the more grown-up members of the family sat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The bedroom was still.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In the bed lay a woman, wasted and weak, but at present sleeping, and there was no one else in the room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Downstairs, supper was being served to the workers, and in the small sitting-room the more grown-up members of the family sat.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The children had gone to bed and were asleep; the farmer was away at a meeting in the neighbouring village.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The bedroom was still.
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading In the bed lay a woman, wasted and weak, but at present sleeping, and there was no one else in the room.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading In the bed lay a woman, wasted and weak, but at present sleeping, and there was no one else in the room.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The children had gone to bed and were asleep; the farmer was away at a meeting in the neighbouring village.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading In the bed lay a woman, wasted and weak, but at present sleeping, and there was no one else in the room.
workersnounUS /ˈwɜːrkərz/
plural of “worker” — a person who works at a specific occupation
From this reading Downstairs, supper was being served to the workers, and in the small sitting-room the more grown-up members of the family sat.
