used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A man's voice, whistling, and the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, came up the footpath from the Homestead.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading A man's voice, whistling, and the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, came up the footpath from the Homestead.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading In the dining-room beyond, they could see the two servants moving around the table, laid for supper.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
on the far side of; further than
From this reading In the dining-room beyond, they could see the two servants moving around the table, laid for supper.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A man's voice, whistling, and the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, came up the footpath from the Homestead.
candlesnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In the dining-room beyond, they could see the two servants moving around the table, laid for supper.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading In the dining-room beyond, they could see the two servants moving around the table, laid for supper.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading And at the same moment, the door of Sylvia's own room opened and shut and there was the rustle of silk and the scent of roses in the hall.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
footpathnounUS /ˈfʊtpæθ/
a trodden path
From this reading A man's voice, whistling, and the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, came up the footpath from the Homestead.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading A man's voice, whistling, and the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, came up the footpath from the Homestead.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In the dining-room beyond, they could see the two servants moving around the table, laid for supper.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading And at the same moment, the door of Sylvia's own room opened and shut and there was the rustle of silk and the scent of roses in the hall.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
HomesteadnounUS /ˈhoʊmsted/
the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family
From this reading A man's voice, whistling, and the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, came up the footpath from the Homestead.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
set down according to a plan
From this reading In the dining-room beyond, they could see the two servants moving around the table, laid for supper.
immediately past
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
living-roomnoun
a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
long-postponed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A man's voice, whistling, and the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, came up the footpath from the Homestead.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
MatnounUS /mæt/
a thick flat pad used as a floor covering
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
a particular point in time
From this reading And at the same moment, the door of Sylvia's own room opened and shut and there was the rustle of silk and the scent of roses in the hall.
in motion
From this reading In the dining-room beyond, they could see the two servants moving around the table, laid for supper.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading And at the same moment, the door of Sylvia's own room opened and shut and there was the rustle of silk and the scent of roses in the hall.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
with speed
From this reading A man's voice, whistling, and the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, came up the footpath from the Homestead.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading And at the same moment, the door of Sylvia's own room opened and shut and there was the rustle of silk and the scent of roses in the hall.
rustleverbUS /ˈrʌsəl/
make a dry crackling sound
From this reading And at the same moment, the door of Sylvia's own room opened and shut and there was the rustle of silk and the scent of roses in the hall.
Identical; not different.
From this reading And at the same moment, the door of Sylvia's own room opened and shut and there was the rustle of silk and the scent of roses in the hall.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
scentnounUS /sɛnt/
A distinctive smell or aroma.
From this reading And at the same moment, the door of Sylvia's own room opened and shut and there was the rustle of silk and the scent of roses in the hall.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading In the dining-room beyond, they could see the two servants moving around the table, laid for supper.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading In the dining-room beyond, they could see the two servants moving around the table, laid for supper.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading And at the same moment, the door of Sylvia's own room opened and shut and there was the rustle of silk and the scent of roses in the hall.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading And at the same moment, the door of Sylvia's own room opened and shut and there was the rustle of silk and the scent of roses in the hall.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading A man's voice, whistling, and the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, came up the footpath from the Homestead.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading In the dining-room beyond, they could see the two servants moving around the table, laid for supper.
Sylvia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading In the dining-room beyond, they could see the two servants moving around the table, laid for supper.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
in or at that place or location
From this reading And at the same moment, the door of Sylvia's own room opened and shut and there was the rustle of silk and the scent of roses in the hall.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the dining-room beyond, they could see the two servants moving around the table, laid for supper.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In the dining-room beyond, they could see the two servants moving around the table, laid for supper.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A man's voice, whistling, and the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, came up the footpath from the Homestead.
vasesnounUS /ˈveɪsəz/
plural of “vas” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading The room was bright with many candles, and early fall flowers from her own garden stood about in clear glass vases.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading A man's voice, whistling, and the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, came up the footpath from the Homestead.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
whistlingnounUS /ˈwɪslɪŋ/
the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture
From this reading A man's voice, whistling, and the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps, came up the footpath from the Homestead.
belonging to which person
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
in the company of; together with
From this reading Uncle Mat, whose long-postponed visit was at last taking place, sat talking in front of the fire in Sylvia's living-room with the "new minister."
