used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
(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 A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mr. Soutar, the clergyman, was dozing over a newspaper by an imaginary fire.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
clergymannounUS /ˈklɜːrdʒimən/
a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church
From this reading Mr. Soutar, the clergyman, was dozing over a newspaper by an imaginary fire.
a steep high face of rock
From this reading The guests at the Cliff Hotel were all indoors.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
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 next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading Colonel Hankin and his wife were reading in a corner of the lounge.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Colonel Hankin and his wife were reading in a corner of the lounge.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
downpournounUS /ˈdaʊnpɔːr/
a heavy rain
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
dozingverbUS /ˈdoʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “doze” — sleep lightly or for a short period of time
From this reading Mr. Soutar, the clergyman, was dozing over a newspaper by an imaginary fire.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Mr. Soutar, the clergyman, was dozing over a newspaper by an imaginary fire.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
fitfullyadverbUS /ˈfɪtfəli/
in a fitful manner
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading The guests at the Cliff Hotel were all indoors.
gustsnounUS /ɡʌsts/
plural of “gust” — a strong current of air
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
Hankin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Hankin and his wife were reading in a corner of the lounge.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Colonel Hankin and his wife were reading in a corner of the lounge.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading The guests at the Cliff Hotel were all indoors.
imaginaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒəneri/
not based on fact; existing only in the imagination
From this reading Mr. Soutar, the clergyman, was dozing over a newspaper by an imaginary fire.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
indoorsadverbUS /ˈɪndɔːrz/
within a building
From this reading The guests at the Cliff Hotel were all indoors.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
loungeverbUS /laʊndʒ/
sit or recline comfortably
From this reading Colonel Hankin and his wife were reading in a corner of the lounge.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Soutar, the clergyman, was dozing over a newspaper by an imaginary fire.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading Mr. Soutar, the clergyman, was dozing over a newspaper by an imaginary fire.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
not any; not one
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Mr. Soutar, the clergyman, was dozing over a newspaper by an imaginary fire.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
rainedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “rain” — precipitate as rain
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Colonel Hankin and his wife were reading in a corner of the lounge.
slantwiseadverb
at a slant; moving or directed in a slantwise position or direction
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
soakingnounUS /ˈsoʊkɪŋ/
the process of becoming softened and saturated as a consequence of being immersed in water (or other liquid)
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
Soutar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Soutar, the clergyman, was dozing over a newspaper by an imaginary fire.
successive (without a break)
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
the rays of the sun
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Soutar, the clergyman, was dozing over a newspaper by an imaginary fire.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The guests at the Cliff Hotel were all indoors.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Colonel Hankin and his wife were reading in a corner of the lounge.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading A gleam of sunshine in the afternoon, then wild rain driven slantwise by the gusts; and now, at five o'clock, no wind at all, but a straight, soaking downpour.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The next day it rained, fitfully at first, at the will of a cold wind that dragged clouds out of heaven.
