used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
lacking funds
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
brother'snounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/
possessive form of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
Claire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Claire!--Sis!"
Claire's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
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 She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
recognizable; marked
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
dimity-covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
without deviation
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
dressing-gown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
easy-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
ejaculationnounUS /iˌdʒækjuːˈleɪʃən/
an abrupt emphatic exclamation expressing emotion
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
ghastlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡæstli/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
the act of departing
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
provoking horror
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
intense and profound fear
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
hystericaladjectiveUS /hɪˈsterɪkəl/
characterized by or arising from psychoneurotic hysteria
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
icyadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsi/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
and nothing more
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
a boy or man
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
a particular point in time
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
quivered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/
(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
SisnounUS /sɪs/
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading "Claire!--Sis!"
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
sobbingnounUS /ˈsɑːbɪŋ/
convulsive gasp made while weeping
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
with low volume
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
tallownounUS /ˈtæloʊ/
obtained from suet and used in making soap, candles and lubricants
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
tappedadjectiveUS /tæpt/
in a condition for letting out liquid drawn out as by piercing or drawing a plug
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
tiptoeverbUS /ˈtɪptoʊ/
walk on one's toes
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
the upper part of anything
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He finally decided on the latter course, and going up to the top of the house on tiptoe, he tapped softly at Claire's bedroom door.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
communicated in words
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
a Caucasian
From this reading She was in a long white dressing-gown, and, seen by the light of the one tallow candle on the table, she looked so pale and ghastly that the lad uttered an ejaculation and caught hold of her thin, cold hands.
which person or people
From this reading It was opened directly by his sister, who had evidently just risen from an old dimity-covered easy-chair.
the words that are spoken
From this reading They were the first warm words of sympathy she had heard since that horrible night; and in a moment the icy horror upon her face broke up, her lips quivered, and, throwing her arms around her brother's neck, she burst into such a passion of hysterical sobbing that, as he held her to his breast, he grew alarmed.
