used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
adjacentadjectiveUS /əˈdʒeɪsənt/
nearest in space or position; immediately adjoining without intervening space
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
terminate
From this reading Vane stopped a few minutes to speak to them, and it was Jessie who gave the signal for the group to break up.
the act of burning something
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
the act of departing
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Vane stopped a few minutes to speak to them, and it was Jessie who gave the signal for the group to break up.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Vane stopped a few minutes to speak to them, and it was Jessie who gave the signal for the group to break up.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Vane stopped a few minutes to speak to them, and it was Jessie who gave the signal for the group to break up.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I must go," she said to Mrs. Nairn.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading Vane stopped a few minutes to speak to them, and it was Jessie who gave the signal for the group to break up.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
Horsfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I must go," she said to Mrs. Nairn.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
Jessie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Vane stopped a few minutes to speak to them, and it was Jessie who gave the signal for the group to break up.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "I must go," she said to Mrs. Nairn.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "I must go," she said to Mrs. Nairn.
Nairn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I must go," she said to Mrs. Nairn.
Nairn's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading VANE SAILS NORTH.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
relaxedadjectiveUS /rɪˈlækst/
without strain or anxiety
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I must go," she said to Mrs. Nairn.
SAILSnounUS /seɪlz/
plural of “sail” — a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
From this reading VANE SAILS NORTH.
cut with a saw
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I must go," she said to Mrs. Nairn.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading Vane stopped a few minutes to speak to them, and it was Jessie who gave the signal for the group to break up.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
express in speech
From this reading Vane stopped a few minutes to speak to them, and it was Jessie who gave the signal for the group to break up.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Vane stopped a few minutes to speak to them, and it was Jessie who gave the signal for the group to break up.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Vane stopped a few minutes to speak to them, and it was Jessie who gave the signal for the group to break up.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Vane stopped a few minutes to speak to them, and it was Jessie who gave the signal for the group to break up.
VANEnounUS /veɪn/
mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind
From this reading VANE SAILS NORTH.
Vane's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
at the time that
From this reading It was growing dusk on the evening of Vane's departure when he walked out of Nairn's room.
in or at the place that
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
which person or people
From this reading Vane stopped a few minutes to speak to them, and it was Jessie who gave the signal for the group to break up.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His host was with him, and when they entered an adjacent room, where a lamp was burning, the older man's face relaxed into a smile as he saw Jessie Horsfield talking to his wife.
