used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the mantelpiece stood a fragment of candle stuck in the neck of a bottle, and this Connie proceeded to light.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading She held the flaring match above her head and looked round the deserted room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She knew far better than Mary how great the danger was, how great the need for coolness and judgment.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And she had been in dire straits like this before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading And she had been in dire straits like this before.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading She knew far better than Mary how great the danger was, how great the need for coolness and judgment.
a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading On the mantelpiece stood a fragment of candle stuck in the neck of a bottle, and this Connie proceeded to light.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading On the mantelpiece stood a fragment of candle stuck in the neck of a bottle, and this Connie proceeded to light.
Connie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN PERIL Connie was the first to recover herself.
coolnessnounUS /ˈkuːlnəs/
calm and unruffled self-assurance
From this reading She knew far better than Mary how great the danger was, how great the need for coolness and judgment.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading She knew far better than Mary how great the danger was, how great the need for coolness and judgment.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading She held the flaring match above her head and looked round the deserted room.
direadjectiveUS /daɪr/
fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless
From this reading And she had been in dire straits like this before.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading She knew far better than Mary how great the danger was, how great the need for coolness and judgment.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading IN PERIL Connie was the first to recover herself.
flaringadjectiveUS /ˈflerɪŋ/
streaming or flapping or spreading wide as if in a current of air
From this reading She held the flaring match above her head and looked round the deserted room.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She knew far better than Mary how great the danger was, how great the need for coolness and judgment.
fragmentnounUS /ˈfræɡ.mənt/
A small part broken or separated off something larger.
From this reading On the mantelpiece stood a fragment of candle stuck in the neck of a bottle, and this Connie proceeded to light.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading She knew far better than Mary how great the danger was, how great the need for coolness and judgment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And she had been in dire straits like this before.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She held the flaring match above her head and looked round the deserted room.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading She held the flaring match above her head and looked round the deserted room.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She held the flaring match above her head and looked round the deserted room.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading IN PERIL Connie was the first to recover herself.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew far better than Mary how great the danger was, how great the need for coolness and judgment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN PERIL Connie was the first to recover herself.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading She knew far better than Mary how great the danger was, how great the need for coolness and judgment.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She knew far better than Mary how great the danger was, how great the need for coolness and judgment.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading On the mantelpiece stood a fragment of candle stuck in the neck of a bottle, and this Connie proceeded to light.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading And she had been in dire straits like this before.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She held the flaring match above her head and looked round the deserted room.
mantelpiecenoun
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading On the mantelpiece stood a fragment of candle stuck in the neck of a bottle, and this Connie proceeded to light.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading She knew far better than Mary how great the danger was, how great the need for coolness and judgment.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading She held the flaring match above her head and looked round the deserted room.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading On the mantelpiece stood a fragment of candle stuck in the neck of a bottle, and this Connie proceeded to light.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading She knew far better than Mary how great the danger was, how great the need for coolness and judgment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the mantelpiece stood a fragment of candle stuck in the neck of a bottle, and this Connie proceeded to light.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the mantelpiece stood a fragment of candle stuck in the neck of a bottle, and this Connie proceeded to light.
PERILnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading IN PERIL Connie was the first to recover herself.
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading On the mantelpiece stood a fragment of candle stuck in the neck of a bottle, and this Connie proceeded to light.
recoververbUS /rɪˈkʌvər/
get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading IN PERIL Connie was the first to recover herself.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading She held the flaring match above her head and looked round the deserted room.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading She held the flaring match above her head and looked round the deserted room.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew far better than Mary how great the danger was, how great the need for coolness and judgment.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading On the mantelpiece stood a fragment of candle stuck in the neck of a bottle, and this Connie proceeded to light.
straitsnounUS /streɪts/
a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs
From this reading And she had been in dire straits like this before.
caught or fixed
From this reading On the mantelpiece stood a fragment of candle stuck in the neck of a bottle, and this Connie proceeded to light.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She knew far better than Mary how great the danger was, how great the need for coolness and judgment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN PERIL Connie was the first to recover herself.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And she had been in dire straits like this before.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IN PERIL Connie was the first to recover herself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN PERIL Connie was the first to recover herself.
