used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BATTLE AND MURDER.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading BATTLE AND MURDER.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Esther was seated on the sofa near the fireplace, Merton was kneeling by her side holding her hand.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading He drew into the shadow of the veranda and watched and listened.
EllisonnounUS /ˈelɪsən/
United States novelist who wrote about a young Black man and his struggles in American society (1914-1994)
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
EsthernounUS /ˈestər/
(Old Testament) a beautiful Jewess chosen by the king of Persia to be his queen; she stopped a plot to massacre all the Jews in Persia (an event celebrated by Jews as the feast of Purim)
From this reading Esther was seated on the sofa near the fireplace, Merton was kneeling by her side holding her hand.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading Esther was seated on the sofa near the fireplace, Merton was kneeling by her side holding her hand.
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Esther was seated on the sofa near the fireplace, Merton was kneeling by her side holding her hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
the act of retaining something
From this reading Esther was seated on the sofa near the fireplace, Merton was kneeling by her side holding her hand.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
intervalsnounUS /ˈɪntərvəlz/
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He drew into the shadow of the veranda and watched and listened.
kneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading Esther was seated on the sofa near the fireplace, Merton was kneeling by her side holding her hand.
lamplightnoun
light from a lamp
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading He drew into the shadow of the veranda and watched and listened.
engage in
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
MertonnounUS /ˈmɜːrtən/
United States religious and writer (1915-1968)
From this reading Esther was seated on the sofa near the fireplace, Merton was kneeling by her side holding her hand.
Merton's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading BATTLE AND MURDER.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Esther was seated on the sofa near the fireplace, Merton was kneeling by her side holding her hand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
a course of conduct
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
replyingverbUS /rɪˈplaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Esther was seated on the sofa near the fireplace, Merton was kneeling by her side holding her hand.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading He drew into the shadow of the veranda and watched and listened.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Esther was seated on the sofa near the fireplace, Merton was kneeling by her side holding her hand.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
sofanounUS /ˈsoʊfə/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading Esther was seated on the sofa near the fireplace, Merton was kneeling by her side holding her hand.
streamedverbUS /striːmd/
past form of “stream” — to extend, wave or float outward, as if in the wind
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
unnaturaladjectiveUS /ənˈnætʃərəl/
not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
verandanounUS /vərˈændə/
a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)
From this reading He drew into the shadow of the veranda and watched and listened.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Esther was seated on the sofa near the fireplace, Merton was kneeling by her side holding her hand.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He drew into the shadow of the veranda and watched and listened.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
wife'snounUS /waɪfs/
possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He could make out Merton's voice inside raised in argument, and at intervals his wife's replying in tones that were as unnatural to her as they were terrible to him to hear.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading A warm flood of lamplight streamed from the sitting room window out on the path as Ellison approached the house.
