used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That night was a night of storms.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Her hands clung tight and rigid about the rails.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the heavy rain ceased, peals of thunder shook the house, and vivid lightning flashed through the darkness.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading When the heavy rain ceased, peals of thunder shook the house, and vivid lightning flashed through the darkness.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading Her hands clung tight and rigid about the rails.
comparisonnounUS /kəmˈperəsən/
the act of examining resemblances
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
a state at a particular time
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
intentionally conceived
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading When the heavy rain ceased, peals of thunder shook the house, and vivid lightning flashed through the darkness.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
faintingverbUS /ˈfeɪntɪŋ/
-ing form of “faint” — pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading When the heavy rain ceased, peals of thunder shook the house, and vivid lightning flashed through the darkness.
set up or found
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
funeralnounUS /ˈfjuːnərəl/
a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
gallerynounUS /ˈɡæləri/
spectators at a golf or tennis match
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading When the heavy rain ceased, peals of thunder shook the house, and vivid lightning flashed through the darkness.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading When the heavy rain ceased, peals of thunder shook the house, and vivid lightning flashed through the darkness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
kneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading When the heavy rain ceased, peals of thunder shook the house, and vivid lightning flashed through the darkness.
Marget
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading That night was a night of storms.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That night was a night of storms.
peals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the heavy rain ceased, peals of thunder shook the house, and vivid lightning flashed through the darkness.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
plaidnounUS /plæd/
a cloth having a crisscross design
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
precautionnounUS /priˈkɔːʃən/
a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
processionnounUS /prəˈseʃən/
(theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
railingsnounUS /ˈreɪlɪŋz/
plural of “railing” — a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
railsnounUS /reɪlz/
a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
From this reading Her hands clung tight and rigid about the rails.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading When the heavy rain ceased, peals of thunder shook the house, and vivid lightning flashed through the darkness.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading Her hands clung tight and rigid about the rails.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading When the heavy rain ceased, peals of thunder shook the house, and vivid lightning flashed through the darkness.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
stormsnounUS /stɔːrmz/
plural of “storm” — a violent weather condition with winds 64-72 knots (11 on the Beaufort scale) and precipitation and thunder and lightning
From this reading That night was a night of storms.
swoonverbUS /swuːn/
pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That night was a night of storms.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the heavy rain ceased, peals of thunder shook the house, and vivid lightning flashed through the darkness.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading When the heavy rain ceased, peals of thunder shook the house, and vivid lightning flashed through the darkness.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading When the heavy rain ceased, peals of thunder shook the house, and vivid lightning flashed through the darkness.
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading Her hands clung tight and rigid about the rails.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading When the heavy rain ceased, peals of thunder shook the house, and vivid lightning flashed through the darkness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That night was a night of storms.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When the funeral procession was safe, Marget fastened her plaid across the door of the dining-room as a precaution, and went up stairs to attend to the Mistress.
at the time that
From this reading When the heavy rain ceased, peals of thunder shook the house, and vivid lightning flashed through the darkness.
in or at the place that
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
but in spite of that
From this reading She found the widow kneeling down, where she had stood, leaning her hands and her face against the railings of the gallery, not fainting, perfectly conscious, yet in a condition in comparison with which a swoon would have been happiness.
