used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading But when he entered the lamplighted dining-room she was already seated behind the shimmering urn, fresh and bright.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Why not? he asked himself.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
inflected form of “beg” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading But when he entered the lamplighted dining-room she was already seated behind the shimmering urn, fresh and bright.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading But when he entered the lamplighted dining-room she was already seated behind the shimmering urn, fresh and bright.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when he entered the lamplighted dining-room she was already seated behind the shimmering urn, fresh and bright.
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
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 A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
cozyadjectiveUS /ˈkoʊzi/
enjoying or affording comforting warmth and shelter especially in a small space
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
crackledverbUS /ˈkrækəld/
past form of “crackle” — make a crackling sound
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading But when he entered the lamplighted dining-room she was already seated behind the shimmering urn, fresh and bright.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
being one more than seven
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
Elaine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading But when he entered the lamplighted dining-room she was already seated behind the shimmering urn, fresh and bright.
accept an excuse for
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
start firing a weapon
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading But when he entered the lamplighted dining-room she was already seated behind the shimmering urn, fresh and bright.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Why not? he asked himself.
homelikeadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊmlaɪk/
having a feeling of home; cozy and comfortable
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
inventverbUS /ˌɪnˈvent/
come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
John'snounUS /dʒɑːnz/
possessive form of “john” — a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
lamplighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when he entered the lamplighted dining-room she was already seated behind the shimmering urn, fresh and bright.
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 There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
loweringadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərɪŋ/
darkened by clouds
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
MelvillenounUS /ˈmelvɪl/
United States writer of novels and short stories (1819-1891)
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
noncommittaladjectiveUS /ˈnɑːnkəˈmɪtəl/
refusing to bind oneself to a particular course of action or view or the like
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
roaredverbUS /rɔːrd/
past form of “roar” — make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading But when he entered the lamplighted dining-room she was already seated behind the shimmering urn, fresh and bright.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
shimmeringverbUS /ˈʃɪmərɪŋ/
-ing form of “shimmer” — shine with a weak or fitful light
From this reading But when he entered the lamplighted dining-room she was already seated behind the shimmering urn, fresh and bright.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
sorelyadverbUS /ˈsɔːrli/
to a great degree
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
temptedverbUS /ˈtemptɪd/
past form of “tempt” — dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
create by training and teaching
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
urnnounUS /ɜːrn/
a large vase that usually has a pedestal or feet
From this reading But when he entered the lamplighted dining-room she was already seated behind the shimmering urn, fresh and bright.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading A big fire roared and crackled in the chimney place, for the morning was cold and lowering, and the scene was so warm and cozy and homelike that John was sorely tempted to invent some desperate excuse and remain at Elaine.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was an early breakfast the next day, for John’s train left Melville at a little before eight.
at the time that
From this reading But when he entered the lamplighted dining-room she was already seated behind the shimmering urn, fresh and bright.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why not? he asked himself.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had begged that Margaret would not come down to see him off and she had answered with a noncommittal smile.
