used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not a single servant knew him and no one welcomed him back to his own home.
(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 While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The hall room was comfortably warmed by an open grate fire which burned under the mantelpiece.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Not a single servant knew him and no one welcomed him back to his own home.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading It is one thing to choose a vocation for yourself and quite another to have some one choose it for you.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Not a single servant knew him and no one welcomed him back to his own home.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading The hall room was comfortably warmed by an open grate fire which burned under the mantelpiece.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The hall room was comfortably warmed by an open grate fire which burned under the mantelpiece.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading It is one thing to choose a vocation for yourself and quite another to have some one choose it for you.
comfortablyadverbUS /ˈkʌmfərtəbli/
in mental comfort; without stress
From this reading The hall room was comfortably warmed by an open grate fire which burned under the mantelpiece.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The hall room was comfortably warmed by an open grate fire which burned under the mantelpiece.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading The hall room was comfortably warmed by an open grate fire which burned under the mantelpiece.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The hall room was comfortably warmed by an open grate fire which burned under the mantelpiece.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It is one thing to choose a vocation for yourself and quite another to have some one choose it for you.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Not a single servant knew him and no one welcomed him back to his own home.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Not a single servant knew him and no one welcomed him back to his own home.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Not a single servant knew him and no one welcomed him back to his own home.
homecomingnounUS /ˈhoʊmkʌmɪŋ/
an annual school or university reunion for graduates
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is one thing to choose a vocation for yourself and quite another to have some one choose it for you.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
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 Not a single servant knew him and no one welcomed him back to his own home.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Nicholas made no reply.
mantelpiecenoun
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading The hall room was comfortably warmed by an open grate fire which burned under the mantelpiece.
NicholasnounUS /ˈnɪkələs/
a bishop in Asia Minor who is associated with Santa Claus (4th century)
From this reading Nicholas made no reply.
NickverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
not any; not one
From this reading Nicholas made no reply.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a single servant knew him and no one welcomed him back to his own home.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Not a single servant knew him and no one welcomed him back to his own home.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The hall room was comfortably warmed by an open grate fire which burned under the mantelpiece.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Not a single servant knew him and no one welcomed him back to his own home.
pitiedverbUS /ˈpɪtiːd/
inflected form of “pity” — share the suffering of
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It is one thing to choose a vocation for yourself and quite another to have some one choose it for you.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading Nicholas made no reply.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The hall room was comfortably warmed by an open grate fire which burned under the mantelpiece.
sacrificingverbUS /ˈsækrəfaɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “sacrifice” — endure the loss of
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Not a single servant knew him and no one welcomed him back to his own home.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Not a single servant knew him and no one welcomed him back to his own home.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It is one thing to choose a vocation for yourself and quite another to have some one choose it for you.
having great beauty and splendor
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
a special situation
From this reading It is one thing to choose a vocation for yourself and quite another to have some one choose it for you.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Not a single servant knew him and no one welcomed him back to his own home.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The hall room was comfortably warmed by an open grate fire which burned under the mantelpiece.
vocationnounUS /voʊˈkeɪʃən/
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading It is one thing to choose a vocation for yourself and quite another to have some one choose it for you.
warmedadjectiveUS /wɔːrmd/
having been warmed up
From this reading The hall room was comfortably warmed by an open grate fire which burned under the mantelpiece.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
welcomedverbUS /ˈwelkəmd/
past form of “welcome” — accept gladly
From this reading Not a single servant knew him and no one welcomed him back to his own home.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The hall room was comfortably warmed by an open grate fire which burned under the mantelpiece.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While it was indeed a splendid homecoming for the General, I pitied Nick and realized what he had been sacrificing all his life for the sake of his country.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading It is one thing to choose a vocation for yourself and quite another to have some one choose it for you.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading It is one thing to choose a vocation for yourself and quite another to have some one choose it for you.
