used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
in the past
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading In the long, low room that Langholm lived in a fire was necessary in damp weather, irrespective of the season.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
being one more than seven
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
opinion or judgment
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading It was on the fire that his eyes fell, straight from the paper in his hand ...
start firing a weapon
From this reading In the long, low room that Langholm lived in a fire was necessary in damp weather, irrespective of the season.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading It was on the fire that his eyes fell, straight from the paper in his hand ...
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
irrespectiveadverbUS /ˌɪrəˈspektɪv/
in spite of everything; without regard to drawbacks
From this reading In the long, low room that Langholm lived in a fire was necessary in damp weather, irrespective of the season.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
Langholm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
immediately past
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading In the long, low room that Langholm lived in a fire was necessary in damp weather, irrespective of the season.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading In the long, low room that Langholm lived in a fire was necessary in damp weather, irrespective of the season.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
manuscriptnounUS /ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/
A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
a particular point in time
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
MOTIVEnounUS /ˈmoʊtɪv/
the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
absolutely essential
From this reading In the long, low room that Langholm lived in a fire was necessary in damp weather, irrespective of the season.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
outrageousadjectiveUS /aʊˈtreɪdʒəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading It was on the fire that his eyes fell, straight from the paper in his hand ...
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
referredverbUS /rəˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “refer” — make reference to
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In the long, low room that Langholm lived in a fire was necessary in damp weather, irrespective of the season.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading In the long, low room that Langholm lived in a fire was necessary in damp weather, irrespective of the season.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
not in physical motion
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
successive (without a break)
From this reading It was on the fire that his eyes fell, straight from the paper in his hand ...
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
tragedynounUS /ˈtrædʒədi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
uncleanadjectiveUS /ənˈkliːn/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
undisciplinedadjectiveUS /ənˈdɪsɪplɪnd/
not subjected to discipline
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
on a floor above
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading In the long, low room that Langholm lived in a fire was necessary in damp weather, irrespective of the season.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
belonging to which person
From this reading It closed his mind to the tragedy of an hour ago, to the dead man lying upstairs, whose low and eager voice still went on and on in his ears.
in the company of; together with
From this reading IN THE MATTER OF A MOTIVE That was between eight and nine o'clock at night; before ten an outrageous thought occurred to the man with the undisciplined imagination.
the words that are spoken
From this reading It was a thought that possessed Langholm like an unclean spirit from the moment in which he raised his eyes from the last words of the manuscript to which the dead man had referred.
