used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading In a flash the recollections of that strange affair by the North Sea, in Cromer, recurred to me.
aghastadjectiveUS /əˈɡæst/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading IS MORE MYSTERIOUS I stood there aghast, staggered, open-mouthed.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading As he approached the house he trod lightly on tip-toe, unaware of my presence behind the bushes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he approached the house he trod lightly on tip-toe, unaware of my presence behind the bushes.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading As he approached the house he trod lightly on tip-toe, unaware of my presence behind the bushes.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading As he approached the house he trod lightly on tip-toe, unaware of my presence behind the bushes.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In a flash the recollections of that strange affair by the North Sea, in Cromer, recurred to me.
chanson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
Cromer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a flash the recollections of that strange affair by the North Sea, in Cromer, recurred to me.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading I watched him like a man in a dream.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading In a flash the recollections of that strange affair by the North Sea, in Cromer, recurred to me.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he approached the house he trod lightly on tip-toe, unaware of my presence behind the bushes.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I watched him like a man in a dream.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading IS MORE MYSTERIOUS I stood there aghast, staggered, open-mouthed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IS MORE MYSTERIOUS I stood there aghast, staggered, open-mouthed.
issuedverbUS /ˈɪʃuːd/
past form of “issue” — prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
without good reason
From this reading As he approached the house he trod lightly on tip-toe, unaware of my presence behind the bushes.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading I watched him like a man in a dream.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In a flash the recollections of that strange affair by the North Sea, in Cromer, recurred to me.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading IS MORE MYSTERIOUS I stood there aghast, staggered, open-mouthed.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading As he approached the house he trod lightly on tip-toe, unaware of my presence behind the bushes.
of an obscure nature
From this reading IS MORE MYSTERIOUS I stood there aghast, staggered, open-mouthed.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading In a flash the recollections of that strange affair by the North Sea, in Cromer, recurred to me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As he approached the house he trod lightly on tip-toe, unaware of my presence behind the bushes.
open-mouthed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IS MORE MYSTERIOUS I stood there aghast, staggered, open-mouthed.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading As he approached the house he trod lightly on tip-toe, unaware of my presence behind the bushes.
recollectionsnounUS /ˌrekəˈlekʃənz/
plural of “recollection” — the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading In a flash the recollections of that strange affair by the North Sea, in Cromer, recurred to me.
recurredverbUS /riˈkɜːrd/
inflected form of “recur” — happen or occur again
From this reading In a flash the recollections of that strange affair by the North Sea, in Cromer, recurred to me.
roadwaynounUS /ˈroʊdweɪ/
a road (especially that part of a road) over which vehicles travel
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading In a flash the recollections of that strange affair by the North Sea, in Cromer, recurred to me.
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
staggeredverbUS /ˈstæɡərd/
past form of “stagger” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading IS MORE MYSTERIOUS I stood there aghast, staggered, open-mouthed.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading IS MORE MYSTERIOUS I stood there aghast, staggered, open-mouthed.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading In a flash the recollections of that strange affair by the North Sea, in Cromer, recurred to me.
stripverbUS /strɪp/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In a flash the recollections of that strange affair by the North Sea, in Cromer, recurred to me.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
in or at that place or location
From this reading IS MORE MYSTERIOUS I stood there aghast, staggered, open-mouthed.
very small
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
tip-toe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached the house he trod lightly on tip-toe, unaware of my presence behind the bushes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In a flash the recollections of that strange affair by the North Sea, in Cromer, recurred to me.
in the direction of
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
trodverbUS /trɑːd/
inflected form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading As he approached the house he trod lightly on tip-toe, unaware of my presence behind the bushes.
unawareadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈwer/
(often followed by “of”) not aware
From this reading As he approached the house he trod lightly on tip-toe, unaware of my presence behind the bushes.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading I watched him like a man in a dream.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
in or at the place that
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
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 The man was walking slowly towards the house whence issued the gay _chanson_, the house where, in the great bay window, shone a bright light across the tiny strip of lawn which separated it from the roadway.
