used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But the affair had a most unexpected ending.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading But the affair had a most unexpected ending.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading ON THE BEACH The whole house was roused in an instant.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading ON THE BEACH The whole house was roused in an instant.
past form of “betray” — reveal unintentionally
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Hoarse shouts came from the rooms of the boys.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the affair had a most unexpected ending.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
the appearance conveyed by a person's face
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
endingnounUS /ˈendɪŋ/
the end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme)
From this reading But the affair had a most unexpected ending.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
a young female
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But the affair had a most unexpected ending.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
HoarseadjectiveUS /hɔːrs/
deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion
From this reading Hoarse shouts came from the rooms of the boys.
horror-strickenadjective
stricken with horror
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading ON THE BEACH The whole house was roused in an instant.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ON THE BEACH The whole house was roused in an instant.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading ON THE BEACH The whole house was roused in an instant.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
maidsnounUS /meɪdz/
plural of “maid” — a female domestic
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
matchedadjectiveUS /mætʃt/
provided with a worthy adversary or competitor
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
used to form the superlative
From this reading But the affair had a most unexpected ending.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE BEACH The whole house was roused in an instant.
one of four equal parts
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
past form of “rouse” — become active
From this reading ON THE BEACH The whole house was roused in an instant.
express in words
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
screamsnounUS /skriːmz/
plural of “scream” — sharp piercing cry
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
shoutsnounUS /ʃaʊts/
plural of “shout” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Hoarse shouts came from the rooms of the boys.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE BEACH The whole house was roused in an instant.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading But the affair had a most unexpected ending.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ON THE BEACH The whole house was roused in an instant.
in or at the place that
From this reading Lights gleamed in various rooms, and from the quarter where the maids slept came shrill screams that matched those of Grace herself.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading ON THE BEACH The whole house was roused in an instant.
belonging to which person
From this reading For the man at whose back Grace was gazing horror-stricken, turned at her sudden shout, and his face betrayed almost as much astonishment, not to say fear, as the countenance of the girl showed.
