used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
(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 It was so still as to suggest no life at all within its simple, hospitable walls.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was so still as to suggest no life at all within its simple, hospitable walls.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was so still as to suggest no life at all within its simple, hospitable walls.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading But, late as the hour was, the occupants of the old ranch house were not in bed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, late as the hour was, the occupants of the old ranch house were not in bed.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
dwellingnounUS /ˈdwelɪŋ/
housing that someone is living in
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
hospitableadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːˈspɪtəbəl/
favorable to life and growth
From this reading It was so still as to suggest no life at all within its simple, hospitable walls.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading But, late as the hour was, the occupants of the old ranch house were not in bed.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The house was quiet.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE RESCUE It was nearly midnight.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was so still as to suggest no life at all within its simple, hospitable walls.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading But, late as the hour was, the occupants of the old ranch house were not in bed.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was so still as to suggest no life at all within its simple, hospitable walls.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading THE RESCUE It was nearly midnight.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading THE RESCUE It was nearly midnight.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
not any; not one
From this reading It was so still as to suggest no life at all within its simple, hospitable walls.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But, late as the hour was, the occupants of the old ranch house were not in bed.
occupantsnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənts/
plural of “occupant” — someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading But, late as the hour was, the occupants of the old ranch house were not in bed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But, late as the hour was, the occupants of the old ranch house were not in bed.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading But, late as the hour was, the occupants of the old ranch house were not in bed.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The house was quiet.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading But, late as the hour was, the occupants of the old ranch house were not in bed.
free from harm or evil
From this reading THE RESCUE It was nearly midnight.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading It was so still as to suggest no life at all within its simple, hospitable walls.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was so still as to suggest no life at all within its simple, hospitable walls.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was so still as to suggest no life at all within its simple, hospitable walls.
suggestverbUS /səˈdʒest/
make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading It was so still as to suggest no life at all within its simple, hospitable walls.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RESCUE It was nearly midnight.
thoroughfarenounUS /ˈθɜːroʊfer/
a public road from one place to another
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was so still as to suggest no life at all within its simple, hospitable walls.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
plural of “wall” — 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 It was so still as to suggest no life at all within its simple, hospitable walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE RESCUE It was nearly midnight.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was in darkness, too, at least from the outside, for all curtains had been drawn for the night, with as much care as though it were a dwelling facing upon some busy thoroughfare in a city.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading It was so still as to suggest no life at all within its simple, hospitable walls.
