used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading O my friend, such a discovery!--a parchment and a picture.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading O my friend, such a discovery!--a parchment and a picture.
antiqueadjectiveUS /ænˈtiːk/
made in or typical of earlier times and valued for its age
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But you shall hear.
a formal event performed on a special occasion
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
the act of discovering something
From this reading O my friend, such a discovery!--a parchment and a picture.
drawersnounUS /drɔːrz/
underpants worn by men
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
fragmentnounUS /ˈfræɡ.mənt/
A small part broken or separated off something larger.
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading O my friend, such a discovery!--a parchment and a picture.
frightfuladjectiveUS /ˈfraɪtfəl/
provoking horror
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading But you shall hear.
heroinesnounUS /ˈheroʊənz/
plural of “heroine” — the main good female character in a work of fiction
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading O my friend, such a discovery!--a parchment and a picture.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading O my friend, such a discovery!--a parchment and a picture.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
parchmentnounUS /ˈpɑːrtʃ.mənt/
A stiff, flat, thin material made from the prepared skin of an animal, used for writing.
From this reading O my friend, such a discovery!--a parchment and a picture.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading O my friend, such a discovery!--a parchment and a picture.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
privilegedadjectiveUS /ˈprɪvlədʒd/
blessed with privileges
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
ransackverbUS /ˈrænsæk/
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
relicnounUS /ˈrelɪk/
an antiquity that has survived from the distant past
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
scrawledverbUS /skrɔːld/
past form of “scrawl” — write carelessly
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
scrutoire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
sensationsnounUS /senˈseɪʃənz/
plural of “sensation” — an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading But you shall hear.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading O my friend, such a discovery!--a parchment and a picture.
tatteredadjectiveUS /ˈtætərd/
worn to shreds; or wearing torn or ragged clothing
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
in or at that place or location
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
uncouthadjectiveUS /ˈʌnˈkuːθ/
lacking refinement or cultivation or taste
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
unravelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
at the time that
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
Wilkinson'snounUS /ˈwɪlkɪnsənz/
possessive form of “wilkinson” — English chemist honored for his research on pollutants in car exhausts (born in 1921)
From this reading After dinner I stole into Wilkinson's study, in hopes of finding, before my flight, some record or relic, that might aid me in unravelling the mystery of my birth.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But what were my sensations, when I discovered in a corner of it, an antique piece of tattered parchment, scrawled all over, in uncouth characters, with this frightful fragment.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading As heroines are privileged to ransack private drawers, and read whatever they find there, I opened Wilkinson's scrutoire, without ceremony.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But you shall hear.
