used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Evidently the housemaid’s tale to Larry about the discharge of the servants was correct, and we explored the rest of the basement with more confidence that we were alone in it.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading And after listening at the door for a moment we explored this room also.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Evidently the housemaid’s tale to Larry about the discharge of the servants was correct, and we explored the rest of the basement with more confidence that we were alone in it.
in addition
From this reading And after listening at the door for a moment we explored this room also.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An unlocked door led from it into the kitchen, an old-fashioned one and very large.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An unlocked door led from it into the kitchen, an old-fashioned one and very large.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And after listening at the door for a moment we explored this room also.
basementnounUS /ˈbeɪsmənt/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading Evidently the housemaid’s tale to Larry about the discharge of the servants was correct, and we explored the rest of the basement with more confidence that we were alone in it.
coolnessnounUS /ˈkuːlnəs/
calm and unruffled self-assurance
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
make right or correct
From this reading Evidently the housemaid’s tale to Larry about the discharge of the servants was correct, and we explored the rest of the basement with more confidence that we were alone in it.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
dischargeverbUS /dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒ/
complete or carry out
From this reading Evidently the housemaid’s tale to Larry about the discharge of the servants was correct, and we explored the rest of the basement with more confidence that we were alone in it.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading An unlocked door led from it into the kitchen, an old-fashioned one and very large.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
exploredverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːrd/
past form of “explore” — inquire into
From this reading And after listening at the door for a moment we explored this room also.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And after listening at the door for a moment we explored this room also.
set up or found
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading An unlocked door led from it into the kitchen, an old-fashioned one and very large.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
housemaid's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Evidently the housemaid’s tale to Larry about the discharge of the servants was correct, and we explored the rest of the basement with more confidence that we were alone in it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
indicatedverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtəd/
past form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading An unlocked door led from it into the kitchen, an old-fashioned one and very large.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading An unlocked door led from it into the kitchen, an old-fashioned one and very large.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading An unlocked door led from it into the kitchen, an old-fashioned one and very large.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading An unlocked door led from it into the kitchen, an old-fashioned one and very large.
Larry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Evidently the housemaid’s tale to Larry about the discharge of the servants was correct, and we explored the rest of the basement with more confidence that we were alone in it.
Larry's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
laundrynounUS /ˈlɔːndri/
garments or white goods that can be cleaned by laundering
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading An unlocked door led from it into the kitchen, an old-fashioned one and very large.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading And after listening at the door for a moment we explored this room also.
provided with artificial light
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
a particular point in time
From this reading And after listening at the door for a moment we explored this room also.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Evidently the housemaid’s tale to Larry about the discharge of the servants was correct, and we explored the rest of the basement with more confidence that we were alone in it.
not any; not one
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading An unlocked door led from it into the kitchen, an old-fashioned one and very large.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading An unlocked door led from it into the kitchen, an old-fashioned one and very large.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Evidently the housemaid’s tale to Larry about the discharge of the servants was correct, and we explored the rest of the basement with more confidence that we were alone in it.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Evidently the housemaid’s tale to Larry about the discharge of the servants was correct, and we explored the rest of the basement with more confidence that we were alone in it.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Evidently the housemaid’s tale to Larry about the discharge of the servants was correct, and we explored the rest of the basement with more confidence that we were alone in it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An unlocked door led from it into the kitchen, an old-fashioned one and very large.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And after listening at the door for a moment we explored this room also.
very small
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Evidently the housemaid’s tale to Larry about the discharge of the servants was correct, and we explored the rest of the basement with more confidence that we were alone in it.
torchnounUS /tɔːrtʃ/
a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
unlockedadjectiveUS /ənˈlɑːkt/
not firmly fastened or secured
From this reading An unlocked door led from it into the kitchen, an old-fashioned one and very large.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
precisely as stated
From this reading An unlocked door led from it into the kitchen, an old-fashioned one and very large.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The fire was out and the ashes were quite cold, and the coolness of the air in the room indicated that no fire had been lit in it that day, or, at least, late that day.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What We Found Larry’s tiny electric torch showed us a small basement room, evidently used as a laundry.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Evidently the housemaid’s tale to Larry about the discharge of the servants was correct, and we explored the rest of the basement with more confidence that we were alone in it.
