used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
in a state of sleep
From this reading Her grandfather was asleep up-stairs.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading She opened the front door with a wild longing to run away.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
cheeryadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪri/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading The corners were full of shadows.
cracklingnounUS /ˈkræklɪŋ/
the residue that remains after animal fat has been rendered
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She opened the front door with a wild longing to run away.
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 That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
at any time
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
start firing a weapon
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading She opened the front door with a wild longing to run away.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The corners were full of shadows.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading Her grandfather was asleep up-stairs.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her grandfather was asleep up-stairs.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
and nothing more
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
provided with artificial light
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
lonesomest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading She opened the front door with a wild longing to run away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading She opened the front door with a wild longing to run away.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading She opened the front door with a wild longing to run away.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The corners were full of shadows.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She opened the front door with a wild longing to run away.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
not in physical motion
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She opened the front door with a wild longing to run away.
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
up-stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her grandfather was asleep up-stairs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading That early twilight hour just before the lamps were lit was the lonesomest one the Little Colonel had ever spent.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading She opened the front door with a wild longing to run away.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She opened the front door with a wild longing to run away.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading There was a cheery wood fire crackling on the hearth of the big fireplace in the hall, but the great house was so still.
