used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
(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 THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Standing on this and peering through the chink in the boards, he gained at last a view of the interior of the house.
from appearances alone
From this reading It was apparently the kitchen, and was unfurnished save for half a dozen rickety chairs, and a deal table in the middle of the room.
ArnoldnounUS /ˈɑːrnəld/
English poet and literary critic (1822-1888)
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
boardsnounUS /bɔːrdz/
(used in the plural) the stage of a theater
From this reading Standing on this and peering through the chink in the boards, he gained at last a view of the interior of the house.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading From the first, he had entered upon this search with a certain presentiment.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading It was apparently the kitchen, and was unfurnished save for half a dozen rickety chairs, and a deal table in the middle of the room.
chinknounUS /tʃɪŋk/
(ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Chinese descent
From this reading Standing on this and peering through the chink in the boards, he gained at last a view of the interior of the house.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading It was apparently the kitchen, and was unfurnished save for half a dozen rickety chairs, and a deal table in the middle of the room.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading It was apparently the kitchen, and was unfurnished save for half a dozen rickety chairs, and a deal table in the middle of the room.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading From the first, he had entered upon this search with a certain presentiment.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading From the first, he had entered upon this search with a certain presentiment.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was apparently the kitchen, and was unfurnished save for half a dozen rickety chairs, and a deal table in the middle of the room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading Standing on this and peering through the chink in the boards, he gained at last a view of the interior of the house.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Standing on this and peering through the chink in the boards, he gained at last a view of the interior of the house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Standing on this and peering through the chink in the boards, he gained at last a view of the interior of the house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Standing on this and peering through the chink in the boards, he gained at last a view of the interior of the house.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading Standing on this and peering through the chink in the boards, he gained at last a view of the interior of the house.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was apparently the kitchen, and was unfurnished save for half a dozen rickety chairs, and a deal table in the middle of the room.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading It was apparently the kitchen, and was unfurnished save for half a dozen rickety chairs, and a deal table in the middle of the room.
immediately past
From this reading Standing on this and peering through the chink in the boards, he gained at last a view of the interior of the house.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked into the room and shivered.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading It was apparently the kitchen, and was unfurnished save for half a dozen rickety chairs, and a deal table in the middle of the room.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
a course of conduct
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Standing on this and peering through the chink in the boards, he gained at last a view of the interior of the house.
presentimentnoun
a feeling of evil to come
From this reading From the first, he had entered upon this search with a certain presentiment.
ricketyadjectiveUS /ˈrɪkəti/
inclined to shake as from weakness or defect
From this reading It was apparently the kitchen, and was unfurnished save for half a dozen rickety chairs, and a deal table in the middle of the room.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
except for; apart from
From this reading It was apparently the kitchen, and was unfurnished save for half a dozen rickety chairs, and a deal table in the middle of the room.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading From the first, he had entered upon this search with a certain presentiment.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
shiveredverbUS /ˈʃɪvərd/
past form of “shiver” — tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
From this reading He looked into the room and shivered.
having a supporting base
From this reading Standing on this and peering through the chink in the boards, he gained at last a view of the interior of the house.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading It was apparently the kitchen, and was unfurnished save for half a dozen rickety chairs, and a deal table in the middle of the room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Standing on this and peering through the chink in the boards, he gained at last a view of the interior of the house.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Standing on this and peering through the chink in the boards, he gained at last a view of the interior of the house.
tiledadjectiveUS /taɪld/
covered or furnished with tiles
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
unfurnishedadjective
not equipped with what is needed especially furniture
From this reading It was apparently the kitchen, and was unfurnished save for half a dozen rickety chairs, and a deal table in the middle of the room.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading From the first, he had entered upon this search with a certain presentiment.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Standing on this and peering through the chink in the boards, he gained at last a view of the interior of the house.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was apparently the kitchen, and was unfurnished save for half a dozen rickety chairs, and a deal table in the middle of the room.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
in the company of; together with
From this reading From the first, he had entered upon this search with a certain presentiment.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading THE END OF AN EVENING To see into the room at all, Arnold had been compelled to step down from the grass on to a narrow, tiled path about half a yard wide, which led to the back door.
