used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading There were chambers where he habitually dwelt, and these she never entered at all.
Alston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As to Alston, she had the hesitations of an imperfect understanding.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As to Alston, she had the hesitations of an imperfect understanding.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It did not come, but still he knew Esther was willing him to her.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
chambersnounUS /ˈtʃeɪmbərz/
English architect (1723-1796)
From this reading There were chambers where he habitually dwelt, and these she never entered at all.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It did not come, but still he knew Esther was willing him to her.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not come, but still he knew Esther was willing him to her.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
dweltverbUS /dwelt/
inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading There were chambers where he habitually dwelt, and these she never entered at all.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading There were chambers where he habitually dwelt, and these she never entered at all.
EsthernounUS /ˈestər/
(Old Testament) a beautiful Jewess chosen by the king of Persia to be his queen; she stopped a plot to massacre all the Jews in Persia (an event celebrated by Jews as the feast of Purim)
From this reading It did not come, but still he knew Esther was willing him to her.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
fleetingadjectiveUS /ˈfliːtɪŋ/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
habituallyadverbUS /həˈbɪtʃuːəli/
according to habit or custom
From this reading There were chambers where he habitually dwelt, and these she never entered at all.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As to Alston, she had the hesitations of an imperfect understanding.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It did not come, but still he knew Esther was willing him to her.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It did not come, but still he knew Esther was willing him to her.
hesitationsnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “hesitation” — indecision in speech or action
From this reading As to Alston, she had the hesitations of an imperfect understanding.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It did not come, but still he knew Esther was willing him to her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
imperfectadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɜːrfɪkt/
not perfect; defective or inadequate
From this reading As to Alston, she had the hesitations of an imperfect understanding.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It did not come, but still he knew Esther was willing him to her.
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 It did not come, but still he knew Esther was willing him to her.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
engage in
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading There were chambers where he habitually dwelt, and these she never entered at all.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It did not come, but still he knew Esther was willing him to her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
soberlyadverbUS /ˈsoʊbərli/
in a grave and sober manner
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
not in physical motion
From this reading It did not come, but still he knew Esther was willing him to her.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Alston stayed soberly at home and read a book that evening, his nerves on edge, listening for a telephone call.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading There were chambers where he habitually dwelt, and these she never entered at all.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It did not come, but still he knew Esther was willing him to her.
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading As to Alston, she had the hesitations of an imperfect understanding.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It did not come, but still he knew Esther was willing him to her.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were chambers where he habitually dwelt, and these she never entered at all.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
in or at the place that
From this reading There were chambers where he habitually dwelt, and these she never entered at all.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading It did not come, but still he knew Esther was willing him to her.
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 Esther sat by the window downstairs, in the dusk, in a fever of desire to know what, since the afternoon, he was thinking of her, and for the first time there was a little fleeting doubt in her heart whether she could make him think something else.
