used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Although it was early in autumn, the evening air was chill.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although it was early in autumn, the evening air was chill.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Have you formed any theory of the murder yet?"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading Although it was early in autumn, the evening air was chill.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading Although it was early in autumn, the evening air was chill.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
cracklingnounUS /ˈkræklɪŋ/
the residue that remains after animal fat has been rendered
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Although it was early in autumn, the evening air was chill.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
start firing a weapon
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading "Have you formed any theory of the murder yet?"
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
depressingly dark
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Have you formed any theory of the murder yet?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
a lack of patience; irritation with anything that causes delay
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
unbiased impartial unconcern
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
and nothing more
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
staying power
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
a room where books are kept
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
set afire or burning
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
mantelpiecenoun
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
Merrington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
moat-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading "Have you formed any theory of the murder yet?"
oaknounUS /oʊk/
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Have you formed any theory of the murder yet?"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
on one occasion
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
Identical; not different.
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
Stanhill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
stridesnounUS /straɪdz/
plural of “stride” — a step in walking or running
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
SuperintendentnounUS /ˌsuːpərənˈtendənt/
a person who directs and manages an organization
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Have you formed any theory of the murder yet?"
a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena
From this reading "Have you formed any theory of the murder yet?"
tickedverbUS /tɪkt/
past form of “tick” — make a clicking or ticking sound
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
warmingadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːrmɪŋ/
imparting heat
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was the evening of the same day, and Superintendent Merrington and Captain Stanhill were once more in the moat-house library.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
which person or people
From this reading It was Captain Stanhill who asked the question, as he stood warming his little legs in front of a crackling fire of oak logs which had just been lighted in the gloomy depths of the big fireplace.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Superintendent Merrington was walking up and down the room with rapid strides, occasionally glancing with some impatience at the clock which ticked with cheerful indifference on the mantelpiece.
but in spite of that
From this reading "Have you formed any theory of the murder yet?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Have you formed any theory of the murder yet?"
