used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
how long something has existed
From this reading They waited in gloomy silence for what seemed an age.
(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 Never in all their lives had they experienced such forlorn sensations as they felt in that shabby parlor.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They waited in gloomy silence for what seemed an age.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Never in all their lives had they experienced such forlorn sensations as they felt in that shabby parlor.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading What a room that was, as revealed now by the light!
cavernousadjectiveUS /ˈkævərnəs/
being or suggesting a cavern
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading They listened with strained ears for sounds through the house.
having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
From this reading Never in all their lives had they experienced such forlorn sensations as they felt in that shabby parlor.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Never in all their lives had they experienced such forlorn sensations as they felt in that shabby parlor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They waited in gloomy silence for what seemed an age.
forlornadjectiveUS /fərˈlɔːrn/
marked by or showing hopelessness
From this reading Never in all their lives had they experienced such forlorn sensations as they felt in that shabby parlor.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
gas-lighter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
depressingly dark
From this reading They waited in gloomy silence for what seemed an age.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Never in all their lives had they experienced such forlorn sensations as they felt in that shabby parlor.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading They listened with strained ears for sounds through the house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They waited in gloomy silence for what seemed an age.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading What a room that was, as revealed now by the light!
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading They listened with strained ears for sounds through the house.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Never in all their lives had they experienced such forlorn sensations as they felt in that shabby parlor.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
a female domestic
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never in all their lives had they experienced such forlorn sensations as they felt in that shabby parlor.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading What a room that was, as revealed now by the light!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading Never in all their lives had they experienced such forlorn sensations as they felt in that shabby parlor.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
plural of “power” — possession of controlling influence
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
in the near future
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading What a room that was, as revealed now by the light!
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading What a room that was, as revealed now by the light!
scoldingnounUS /ˈskoʊldɪŋ/
rebuking a person harshly
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They waited in gloomy silence for what seemed an age.
sensationsnounUS /senˈseɪʃənz/
plural of “sensation” — an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading Never in all their lives had they experienced such forlorn sensations as they felt in that shabby parlor.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading Never in all their lives had they experienced such forlorn sensations as they felt in that shabby parlor.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading They waited in gloomy silence for what seemed an age.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading They listened with strained ears for sounds through the house.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading They listened with strained ears for sounds through the house.
subterraneanadjectiveUS /ˌsʌb.təˈreɪ.ni.ən/
Existing, occurring, or done under the earth's surface.
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Never in all their lives had they experienced such forlorn sensations as they felt in that shabby parlor.
taperverbUS /ˈteɪpər/
diminish gradually
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Never in all their lives had they experienced such forlorn sensations as they felt in that shabby parlor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They listened with strained ears for sounds through the house.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Never in all their lives had they experienced such forlorn sensations as they felt in that shabby parlor.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They waited in gloomy silence for what seemed an age.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading They listened with strained ears for sounds through the house.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading They waited in gloomy silence for what seemed an age.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What a room that was, as revealed now by the light!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They waited in gloomy silence for what seemed an age.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Down in some subterranean, cavernous place they could hear a voice, loud, shrill and scolding, and presently the maid returned bearing a gas-lighter, with which she turned the taper on to its full powers.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They listened with strained ears for sounds through the house.
