used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It was an afternoon in the following winter in the pilot's home.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an afternoon in the following winter in the pilot's home.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His wife was expecting him, and kept looking uneasily out of the window.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
boilingnounUS /ˈbɔɪlɪŋ/
the application of heat to change something from a liquid to a gas
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading It was too early to light a candle.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
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 It was too early to light a candle.
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading His wife was expecting him, and kept looking uneasily out of the window.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading It was an afternoon in the following winter in the pilot's home.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His wife was expecting him, and kept looking uneasily out of the window.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His wife was expecting him, and kept looking uneasily out of the window.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading It was an afternoon in the following winter in the pilot's home.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was an afternoon in the following winter in the pilot's home.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an afternoon in the following winter in the pilot's home.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading His wife was expecting him, and kept looking uneasily out of the window.
kettlenounUS /ˈketəl/
a metal pot for stewing or boiling; usually has a lid
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading His wife was expecting him, and kept looking uneasily out of the window.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
the middle of the day
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His wife was expecting him, and kept looking uneasily out of the window.
on one occasion
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading His wife was expecting him, and kept looking uneasily out of the window.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
pilot'snounUS /ˈpaɪləts/
possessive form of “pilot” — someone who is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight
From this reading It was an afternoon in the following winter in the pilot's home.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
sewingnounUS /ˈsoʊɪŋ/
joining or attaching by stitches
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
stormyadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːrmi/
(especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
stovenounUS /stoʊv/
a kitchen appliance used for cooking food
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was an afternoon in the following winter in the pilot's home.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It was too early to light a candle.
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
uneasilyadverbUS /əˈniːzəli/
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading His wife was expecting him, and kept looking uneasily out of the window.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an afternoon in the following winter in the pilot's home.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
at the time that
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
in or at the place that
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading He was to have been home by noon, and it was now beginning to get dark; and the weather had been stormy the whole of the previous day.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading His wife was expecting him, and kept looking uneasily out of the window.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading His wife was expecting him, and kept looking uneasily out of the window.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading It was an afternoon in the following winter in the pilot's home.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She gave up sewing, and sat thinking in the twilight, with the light playing over the floor from the door of the stove, where a little kettle was boiling, that she might have something warm ready for him at once when he came.
