used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A part of the wall fell away and disclosed a small room beyond.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The room had evidently been occupied lately, for there was a fire in the grate and the remains of a meal on the table.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
Bentwoodnoun
wood that is steamed until it becomes pliable and then is shaped for use in making furniture
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading A part of the wall fell away and disclosed a small room beyond.
dadonounUS /ˈdeɪdoʊ/
panel forming the lower part of an interior wall when it is finished differently from the rest of the wall
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
disclosedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskloʊzd/
made known (especially something secret or concealed)
From this reading A part of the wall fell away and disclosed a small room beyond.
discoloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading The room itself was empty.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The room had evidently been occupied lately, for there was a fire in the grate and the remains of a meal on the table.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading A part of the wall fell away and disclosed a small room beyond.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The room had evidently been occupied lately, for there was a fire in the grate and the remains of a meal on the table.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The room had evidently been occupied lately, for there was a fire in the grate and the remains of a meal on the table.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading The room had evidently been occupied lately, for there was a fire in the grate and the remains of a meal on the table.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The room had evidently been occupied lately, for there was a fire in the grate and the remains of a meal on the table.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The room had evidently been occupied lately, for there was a fire in the grate and the remains of a meal on the table.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The room itself was empty.
in the recent past
From this reading The room had evidently been occupied lately, for there was a fire in the grate and the remains of a meal on the table.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading The room had evidently been occupied lately, for there was a fire in the grate and the remains of a meal on the table.
held or filled or in use
From this reading The room had evidently been occupied lately, for there was a fire in the grate and the remains of a meal on the table.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading A part of the wall fell away and disclosed a small room beyond.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
compacted by ironing
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
any object that is left unused or still extant
From this reading The room had evidently been occupied lately, for there was a fire in the grate and the remains of a meal on the table.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A part of the wall fell away and disclosed a small room beyond.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A part of the wall fell away and disclosed a small room beyond.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The room had evidently been occupied lately, for there was a fire in the grate and the remains of a meal on the table.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
thumbnounUS /θʌm/
the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading A part of the wall fell away and disclosed a small room beyond.
wallpapernounUS /ˈwɔːlpeɪpər/
a decorative paper for the walls of rooms
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a little discoloured spot about half way between the dado and the floor, and on this the doctor pressed a shaking thumb.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Bentwood led the way from the dining-room up a back staircase, and paused before what looked like a portion of the wallpaper.
