used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
(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 "All right," I answered, took my resolution in my hands, and stepped forth.
in addition
From this reading Also it was very cold.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "All right," I answered, took my resolution in my hands, and stepped forth.
arisenverbUS /ərˈɪzən/
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
bread-and-butter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading DUCKS The Captain rapped on my door.
coffee-and-egg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
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 Also it was very cold.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
devouringadjectiveUS /dɪˈvaʊərɪŋ/
(often followed by “for”) ardently or excessively desirous
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading DUCKS The Captain rapped on my door.
DUCKSnounUS /dʌks/
plural of “duck” — small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
From this reading DUCKS The Captain rapped on my door.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "All right," I answered, took my resolution in my hands, and stepped forth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading "All right," I answered, took my resolution in my hands, and stepped forth.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "All right," I answered, took my resolution in my hands, and stepped forth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "All right," I answered, took my resolution in my hands, and stepped forth.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
manipulatingverbUS /məˈnɪpjəleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “manipulate” — influence or control shrewdly or deviously
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading DUCKS The Captain rapped on my door.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading DUCKS The Captain rapped on my door.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
pilenounUS /paɪl/
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
pitchnounUS /pɪtʃ/
the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
rappedverbUS /ræpt/
inflected form of “rap” — strike sharply
From this reading DUCKS The Captain rapped on my door.
a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading "All right," I answered, took my resolution in my hands, and stepped forth.
precisely, exactly
From this reading "All right," I answered, took my resolution in my hands, and stepped forth.
sandwichesnounUS /ˈsændwɪtʃɪz/
plural of “sandwich” — two (or more) slices of bread with a filling between them
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading "All right," I answered, took my resolution in my hands, and stepped forth.
sweepingadjectiveUS /ˈswiːpɪŋ/
taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DUCKS The Captain rapped on my door.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading "All right," I answered, took my resolution in my hands, and stepped forth.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
precisely as stated
From this reading Also it was very cold.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Ten minutes later, by the light of a single candle, we were manipulating the coffee-and-egg machine, and devouring the tall pile of bread-and-butter sandwiches that had been left for us over night.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading It was pitch dark, and the wind, which had arisen during the night, was sweeping through the open windows, blowing the light curtains about.
