used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading FIREARMS In the middle of the night Virginia was awakened by the sound of a revolver shot.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The man Leverson was sitting in an easy-chair, with an ugly gash across the temple, and one of his men had a revolver wound through the shoulder.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading Electric alarm bells were ringing, and servants were hurrying toward the library.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The house was already, however, a blaze of light.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She put on her dressing-gown, and, with an electric torch in her hand, started to descend the stairs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She put on her dressing-gown, and, with an electric torch in her hand, started to descend the stairs.
aroused or activated
From this reading FIREARMS In the middle of the night Virginia was awakened by the sound of a revolver shot.
bellsnounUS /belz/
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Electric alarm bells were ringing, and servants were hurrying toward the library.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading The house was already, however, a blaze of light.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading FIREARMS In the middle of the night Virginia was awakened by the sound of a revolver shot.
descendverbUS /dɪˈsend/
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading She put on her dressing-gown, and, with an electric torch in her hand, started to descend the stairs.
dressing-gown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She put on her dressing-gown, and, with an electric torch in her hand, started to descend the stairs.
easy-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man Leverson was sitting in an easy-chair, with an ugly gash across the temple, and one of his men had a revolver wound through the shoulder.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading She put on her dressing-gown, and, with an electric torch in her hand, started to descend the stairs.
FIREARMSnounUS /ˈfaɪərɑːrmz/
plural of “firearm” — a portable gun
From this reading FIREARMS In the middle of the night Virginia was awakened by the sound of a revolver shot.
gashverbUS /ɡæʃ/
cut open
From this reading The man Leverson was sitting in an easy-chair, with an ugly gash across the temple, and one of his men had a revolver wound through the shoulder.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The man Leverson was sitting in an easy-chair, with an ugly gash across the temple, and one of his men had a revolver wound through the shoulder.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She put on her dressing-gown, and, with an electric torch in her hand, started to descend the stairs.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She put on her dressing-gown, and, with an electric torch in her hand, started to descend the stairs.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The man Leverson was sitting in an easy-chair, with an ugly gash across the temple, and one of his men had a revolver wound through the shoulder.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The house was already, however, a blaze of light.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The house was already, however, a blaze of light.
hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading Electric alarm bells were ringing, and servants were hurrying toward the library.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading FIREARMS In the middle of the night Virginia was awakened by the sound of a revolver shot.
Leverson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man Leverson was sitting in an easy-chair, with an ugly gash across the temple, and one of his men had a revolver wound through the shoulder.
a room where books are kept
From this reading Electric alarm bells were ringing, and servants were hurrying toward the library.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The house was already, however, a blaze of light.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man Leverson was sitting in an easy-chair, with an ugly gash across the temple, and one of his men had a revolver wound through the shoulder.
the force of workers available
From this reading The man Leverson was sitting in an easy-chair, with an ugly gash across the temple, and one of his men had a revolver wound through the shoulder.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading FIREARMS In the middle of the night Virginia was awakened by the sound of a revolver shot.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading FIREARMS In the middle of the night Virginia was awakened by the sound of a revolver shot.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FIREARMS In the middle of the night Virginia was awakened by the sound of a revolver shot.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She put on her dressing-gown, and, with an electric torch in her hand, started to descend the stairs.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The man Leverson was sitting in an easy-chair, with an ugly gash across the temple, and one of his men had a revolver wound through the shoulder.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She put on her dressing-gown, and, with an electric torch in her hand, started to descend the stairs.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading FIREARMS In the middle of the night Virginia was awakened by the sound of a revolver shot.
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading Electric alarm bells were ringing, and servants were hurrying toward the library.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Electric alarm bells were ringing, and servants were hurrying toward the library.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She put on her dressing-gown, and, with an electric torch in her hand, started to descend the stairs.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading FIREARMS In the middle of the night Virginia was awakened by the sound of a revolver shot.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading The man Leverson was sitting in an easy-chair, with an ugly gash across the temple, and one of his men had a revolver wound through the shoulder.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading The man Leverson was sitting in an easy-chair, with an ugly gash across the temple, and one of his men had a revolver wound through the shoulder.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading FIREARMS In the middle of the night Virginia was awakened by the sound of a revolver shot.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading She put on her dressing-gown, and, with an electric torch in her hand, started to descend the stairs.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She put on her dressing-gown, and, with an electric torch in her hand, started to descend the stairs.
place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading The man Leverson was sitting in an easy-chair, with an ugly gash across the temple, and one of his men had a revolver wound through the shoulder.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FIREARMS In the middle of the night Virginia was awakened by the sound of a revolver shot.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The man Leverson was sitting in an easy-chair, with an ugly gash across the temple, and one of his men had a revolver wound through the shoulder.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She put on her dressing-gown, and, with an electric torch in her hand, started to descend the stairs.
torchnounUS /tɔːrtʃ/
a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading She put on her dressing-gown, and, with an electric torch in her hand, started to descend the stairs.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Electric alarm bells were ringing, and servants were hurrying toward the library.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading The man Leverson was sitting in an easy-chair, with an ugly gash across the temple, and one of his men had a revolver wound through the shoulder.
VirginianounUS /vərˈdʒɪnjə/
a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War
From this reading FIREARMS In the middle of the night Virginia was awakened by the sound of a revolver shot.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading FIREARMS In the middle of the night Virginia was awakened by the sound of a revolver shot.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Electric alarm bells were ringing, and servants were hurrying toward the library.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She put on her dressing-gown, and, with an electric torch in her hand, started to descend the stairs.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading The man Leverson was sitting in an easy-chair, with an ugly gash across the temple, and one of his men had a revolver wound through the shoulder.
