used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
(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 His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
in addition
From this reading His orders were also to kill any strangers who might try to force their way into the House on any pretence whatever.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading His orders were also to kill any strangers who might try to force their way into the House on any pretence whatever.
artificialadjectiveUS /ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəl/
contrived by art rather than nature
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
conductedverbUS /kənˈdʌktəd/
past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
experimentsnounUS /ɪkˈsperəmənts/
plural of “experiment” — the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
the organ of sight
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
FabricnounUS /ˈfæbrɪk/
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
FIDELITYnounUS /fəˈdeləti/
accuracy with which an electronic system reproduces the sound or image of its input signal
From this reading THE FIDELITY OF JOHN LAX.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading His orders were also to kill any strangers who might try to force their way into the House on any pretence whatever.
furnacesnounUS /ˈfɜːrnʌsɪz/
plural of “furnace” — an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to heat buildings, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores, etc.
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading My visitor was the Porter of the House of Life, our most trusted servant, John Lax.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
inspectverbUS /ˌɪnˈspekt/
look over carefully
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
discontinued temporarily
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading His orders were also to kill any strangers who might try to force their way into the House on any pretence whatever.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading THE FIDELITY OF JOHN LAX.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading His orders were also to kill any strangers who might try to force their way into the House on any pretence whatever.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
laboratoriesnounUS /ˈlæbrətɔːriz/
plural of “laboratory” — a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
laboratorynounUS /ˈlæbrətɔːri/
a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
LAXadjectiveUS /læks/
lacking in rigor or strictness
From this reading THE FIDELITY OF JOHN LAX.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading My visitor was the Porter of the House of Life, our most trusted servant, John Lax.
manufactureverbUS /ˌmænjəˈfæktʃər/
put together out of artificial or natural components or parts
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading His orders were also to kill any strangers who might try to force their way into the House on any pretence whatever.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
used to form the superlative
From this reading My visitor was the Porter of the House of Life, our most trusted servant, John Lax.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
not any; not one
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
plural of “note” — a brief written record
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FIDELITY OF JOHN LAX.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading His orders were also to kill any strangers who might try to force their way into the House on any pretence whatever.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading My visitor was the Porter of the House of Life, our most trusted servant, John Lax.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
PorternounUS /ˈpɔːrtər/
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading My visitor was the Porter of the House of Life, our most trusted servant, John Lax.
pretencenoun
a false or unsupportable quality
From this reading His orders were also to kill any strangers who might try to force their way into the House on any pretence whatever.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
repairnounUS /rɪˈper/
the act of putting something in working order again
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading My visitor was the Porter of the House of Life, our most trusted servant, John Lax.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading His orders were also to kill any strangers who might try to force their way into the House on any pretence whatever.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIDELITY OF JOHN LAX.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading His orders were also to kill any strangers who might try to force their way into the House on any pretence whatever.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
trustedadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌstɪd/
(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence
From this reading My visitor was the Porter of the House of Life, our most trusted servant, John Lax.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading His orders were also to kill any strangers who might try to force their way into the House on any pretence whatever.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
someone who visits
From this reading My visitor was the Porter of the House of Life, our most trusted servant, John Lax.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His orders were also to kill any strangers who might try to force their way into the House on any pretence whatever.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading His orders were also to kill any strangers who might try to force their way into the House on any pretence whatever.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading That morning, while I was in my private laboratory, idly turning over certain Notes on experiments conducted for the artificial manufacture of food, I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
which person or people
From this reading His orders were also to kill any strangers who might try to force their way into the House on any pretence whatever.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading His duty it was to sleep in the House--his chamber being that ancient room over the South Porch--to inspect the furnaces and laboratories after the work of the day was closed, and at all times to keep an eye upon the Fabric itself, so that it should in no way fall out of repair.
