used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They strolled down past the hotel, whistling a college tune in chorus.
abedadverbUS /əˈbed/
in bed
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
(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 The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
basementnounUS /ˈbeɪsmənt/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading “Hulloa!” exclaimed Henry Burns, pointing to a faint gleam that shone from a basement window.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
billiard-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “John Carr has forgotten to put out his lamps in the billiard-room.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
BurnsnounUS /bɜːrnz/
United States comedian and film actor (1896-1996)
From this reading “Hulloa!” exclaimed Henry Burns, pointing to a faint gleam that shone from a basement window.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
Carr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “John Carr has forgotten to put out his lamps in the billiard-room.
chorusnounUS /ˈkɔːrəs/
any utterance produced simultaneously by a group
From this reading They strolled down past the hotel, whistling a college tune in chorus.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading They strolled down past the hotel, whistling a college tune in chorus.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading They strolled down past the hotel, whistling a college tune in chorus.
envelopingadjectiveUS /ɪnˈveləpɪŋ/
surrounding and closing in on or hemming in
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “Hulloa!” exclaimed Henry Burns, pointing to a faint gleam that shone from a basement window.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading “Hulloa!” exclaimed Henry Burns, pointing to a faint gleam that shone from a basement window.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading “John Carr has forgotten to put out his lamps in the billiard-room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Hulloa!” exclaimed Henry Burns, pointing to a faint gleam that shone from a basement window.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading “Hulloa!” exclaimed Henry Burns, pointing to a faint gleam that shone from a basement window.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
half-moonnoun
the crescent-shaped area at the base of the human fingernail
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “John Carr has forgotten to put out his lamps in the billiard-room.
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading “Hulloa!” exclaimed Henry Burns, pointing to a faint gleam that shone from a basement window.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “John Carr has forgotten to put out his lamps in the billiard-room.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading They strolled down past the hotel, whistling a college tune in chorus.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
Hulloa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Hulloa!” exclaimed Henry Burns, pointing to a faint gleam that shone from a basement window.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They strolled down past the hotel, whistling a college tune in chorus.
indefiniteadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdefənət/
vague or not clearly defined or stated
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading “John Carr has forgotten to put out his lamps in the billiard-room.
and nothing more
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading “John Carr has forgotten to put out his lamps in the billiard-room.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading They strolled down past the hotel, whistling a college tune in chorus.
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading “Hulloa!” exclaimed Henry Burns, pointing to a faint gleam that shone from a basement window.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “John Carr has forgotten to put out his lamps in the billiard-room.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading “Hulloa!” exclaimed Henry Burns, pointing to a faint gleam that shone from a basement window.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
strolledverbUS /stroʊld/
past form of “stroll” — walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
From this reading They strolled down past the hotel, whistling a college tune in chorus.
required or under orders
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Hulloa!” exclaimed Henry Burns, pointing to a faint gleam that shone from a basement window.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They strolled down past the hotel, whistling a college tune in chorus.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
tunenounUS /tuːn/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading They strolled down past the hotel, whistling a college tune in chorus.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The hotel stood out, a big, black, indefinite object in the enveloping darkness, for the lights had been out for nearly two hours, and the guests were supposed to be all abed.
at the time that
From this reading It was nearly midnight when the boys came over the hill, and the half-moon was just sinking out of sight.
whistlingnounUS /ˈwɪslɪŋ/
the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture
From this reading They strolled down past the hotel, whistling a college tune in chorus.
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 “Hulloa!” exclaimed Henry Burns, pointing to a faint gleam that shone from a basement window.
