adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
actionnounUS /ˈækʃən/
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
analyzedadjectiveUS /ˈænəlaɪzd/
examined carefully and methodically; broken down for consideration of constituent parts
From this reading Step by step he analyzed and strove to connect the developments of the last few days.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
autumnnounUS /ˈɔːtəm/
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Step by step he analyzed and strove to connect the developments of the last few days.
casenounUS /keɪs/
an occurrence of something
From this reading The case was strange in many ways.
cheeryadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪri/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
circumstancesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəmstænsəz/
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
citynounUS /ˈsɪti/
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
CLOSEDadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
cloudsnounUS /klaʊdz/
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
cluesnounUS /kluːz/
plural of “clue” — a slight indication
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
connectverbUS /kəˈnekt/
connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces
From this reading Step by step he analyzed and strove to connect the developments of the last few days.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
COUNTRYnounUS /ˈkʌntri/
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Step by step he analyzed and strove to connect the developments of the last few days.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
developmentsnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənts/
plural of “development” — act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading Step by step he analyzed and strove to connect the developments of the last few days.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
featurenounUS /ˈfiːtʃər/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Step by step he analyzed and strove to connect the developments of the last few days.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
frostyadjectiveUS /ˈfrɔːsti/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
gasnounUS /ɡæs/
the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
graynounUS /ɡreɪ/
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
half-identified
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Step by step he analyzed and strove to connect the developments of the last few days.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
HOUSEnounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading Step by step he analyzed and strove to connect the developments of the last few days.
litadjectiveUS /lɪt/
provided with artificial light
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
low-hanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The case was strange in many ways.
MarshnounUS /mɑːrʃ/
low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
numerousadjectiveUS /ˈnuːmərəs/
amounting to a large indefinite number
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
realadjectiveUS /riːl/
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
ReturningadjectiveUS /rɪˈtɜːrnɪŋ/
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
smokenounUS /smoʊk/
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
snapverbUS /snæp/
utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
StepnounUS /step/
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Step by step he analyzed and strove to connect the developments of the last few days.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading The case was strange in many ways.
stroveverbUS /stroʊv/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading Step by step he analyzed and strove to connect the developments of the last few days.
SundaynounUS /ˈsʌndeɪ/
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
suspicionsnounUS /səˈspɪʃənz/
plural of “suspicion” — an impression that something might be the case
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Returning from breakfast, Marsh lit the gas logs in his fireplace and sat down before their cheery blaze to smoke and think.
touchverbUS /tʌtʃ/
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
waysnounUS /weɪz/
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading The case was strange in many ways.
weathernounUS /ˈweðər/
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading With numerous clues, suspicions circumstances and half-identified people on every hand, there was no one feature upon which definite action could be taken.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE CLOSED COUNTRY HOUSE Sunday morning was gray and dark, with low-hanging clouds and a frosty snap in the air that gave the city its first touch of real autumn weather.
