used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading At any rate, she knows we are."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At any rate, she knows we are."
artisticadjectiveUS /ɑːrˈtɪstɪk/
relating to or characteristic of art or artists
From this reading "This is the kind of a night when a fire serves artistic purposes only.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At any rate, she knows we are."
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading PICTURES IN THE EMBERS They were back home now.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "A girl who knew we would want a fire has either been in love or ought to be.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
one or the other of two
From this reading "A girl who knew we would want a fire has either been in love or ought to be.
EMBERSnounUS /ˈembərz/
plural of “ember” — a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering
From this reading PICTURES IN THE EMBERS They were back home now.
Ernestine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
start firing a weapon
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
a young female
From this reading "A girl who knew we would want a fire has either been in love or ought to be.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading PICTURES IN THE EMBERS They were back home now.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PICTURES IN THE EMBERS They were back home now.
intuitions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "This is the kind of a night when a fire serves artistic purposes only.
and nothing more
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading "This is the kind of a night when a fire serves artistic purposes only.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "A girl who knew we would want a fire has either been in love or ought to be.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading At any rate, she knows we are."
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
a room where books are kept
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
set afire or burning
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading "A girl who knew we would want a fire has either been in love or ought to be.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "This is the kind of a night when a fire serves artistic purposes only.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading PICTURES IN THE EMBERS They were back home now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "This is the kind of a night when a fire serves artistic purposes only.
and nothing more
From this reading "This is the kind of a night when a fire serves artistic purposes only.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "A girl who knew we would want a fire has either been in love or ought to be.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading "A girl who knew we would want a fire has either been in love or ought to be.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading PICTURES IN THE EMBERS They were back home now.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
purposesnounUS /ˈpɜːrpəsəz/
plural of “purpose” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading "This is the kind of a night when a fire serves artistic purposes only.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading At any rate, she knows we are."
cut with a saw
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
servesnounUS /sɜːrvz/
plural of “serve” — (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play
From this reading "This is the kind of a night when a fire serves artistic purposes only.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PICTURES IN THE EMBERS They were back home now.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading PICTURES IN THE EMBERS They were back home now.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This is the kind of a night when a fire serves artistic purposes only.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "A girl who knew we would want a fire has either been in love or ought to be.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "A girl who knew we would want a fire has either been in love or ought to be.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "A girl who knew we would want a fire has either been in love or ought to be.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading PICTURES IN THE EMBERS They were back home now.
at the time that
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
which person or people
From this reading "A girl who knew we would want a fire has either been in love or ought to be.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why, Mary has intuitions," laughed Ernestine, when she saw that a fire had been lighted in the library, and was in just the proper state for seeing pictures.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "A girl who knew we would want a fire has either been in love or ought to be.
