used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
agentnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənt/
an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was then half-past eleven, and the house was in total darkness.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I glanced at my watch.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was then half-past eleven, and the house was in total darkness.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
being one more than ten
From this reading It was then half-past eleven, and the house was in total darkness.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
set up or found
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading I glanced at my watch.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was then half-past eleven, and the house was in total darkness.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was then half-past eleven, and the house was in total darkness.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I glanced at my watch.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Yet I still waited, wondering vaguely if Tramu were still in the vicinity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was then half-past eleven, and the house was in total darkness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was then half-past eleven, and the house was in total darkness.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
engage in
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I glanced at my watch.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
not in physical motion
From this reading Yet I still waited, wondering vaguely if Tramu were still in the vicinity.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was then half-past eleven, and the house was in total darkness.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It was then half-past eleven, and the house was in total darkness.
torchnounUS /tɔːrtʃ/
a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
totalverbUS /ˈtoʊtəl/
add up in number or quantity
From this reading It was then half-past eleven, and the house was in total darkness.
Tramu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I still waited, wondering vaguely if Tramu were still in the vicinity.
tree-stump
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
on a floor above
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading Yet I still waited, wondering vaguely if Tramu were still in the vicinity.
vicinitynounUS /vəˈsɪnəti/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading Yet I still waited, wondering vaguely if Tramu were still in the vicinity.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Yet I still waited, wondering vaguely if Tramu were still in the vicinity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was then half-past eleven, and the house was in total darkness.
look attentively
From this reading I glanced at my watch.
watchfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɑːtʃfəl/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Yet I still waited, wondering vaguely if Tramu were still in the vicinity.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Suddenly, however, a bright stream of light, evidently from an electric torch, shot from one of the upstairs windows, and continued for some seconds.
showing curiosity
From this reading Yet I still waited, wondering vaguely if Tramu were still in the vicinity.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I found an old tree-stump, and sitting upon it, waited in watchful patience, wondering if the agent of French police would make his appearance.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet I still waited, wondering vaguely if Tramu were still in the vicinity.
