used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She was huddled up, with clasped arms, weaving to and fro and moaning inarticulate prayers, while her eyes rolled wildly about in her head.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading At the same moment she was conscious of an almost overpowering odour of incense, something that Gloria never used, she knew.
Amy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At the same moment she was conscious of an almost overpowering odour of incense, something that Gloria never used, she knew.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading She was huddled up, with clasped arms, weaving to and fro and moaning inarticulate prayers, while her eyes rolled wildly about in her head.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the same moment she was conscious of an almost overpowering odour of incense, something that Gloria never used, she knew.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
the act of burning something
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading She was huddled up, with clasped arms, weaving to and fro and moaning inarticulate prayers, while her eyes rolled wildly about in her head.
intentionally conceived
From this reading At the same moment she was conscious of an almost overpowering odour of incense, something that Gloria never used, she knew.
crouchingverbUS /ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
envelopingadjectiveUS /ɪnˈveləpɪŋ/
surrounding and closing in on or hemming in
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She was huddled up, with clasped arms, weaving to and fro and moaning inarticulate prayers, while her eyes rolled wildly about in her head.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was huddled up, with clasped arms, weaving to and fro and moaning inarticulate prayers, while her eyes rolled wildly about in her head.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
Gloria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the same moment she was conscious of an almost overpowering odour of incense, something that Gloria never used, she knew.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
hazenounUS /heɪz/
atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She was huddled up, with clasped arms, weaving to and fro and moaning inarticulate prayers, while her eyes rolled wildly about in her head.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading She was huddled up, with clasped arms, weaving to and fro and moaning inarticulate prayers, while her eyes rolled wildly about in her head.
illumineverb
make lighter or brighter
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
inarticulateadjectiveUS /ˌɪnɑːrˈtɪkjələt/
without or deprived of the use of speech or words
From this reading She was huddled up, with clasped arms, weaving to and fro and moaning inarticulate prayers, while her eyes rolled wildly about in her head.
incensenounUS /ˌɪnˈsens/
a substance that produces a fragrant odor when burned
From this reading At the same moment she was conscious of an almost overpowering odour of incense, something that Gloria never used, she knew.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading At the same moment she was conscious of an almost overpowering odour of incense, something that Gloria never used, she knew.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
moaningverbUS /ˈmoʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “moan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading She was huddled up, with clasped arms, weaving to and fro and moaning inarticulate prayers, while her eyes rolled wildly about in her head.
a particular point in time
From this reading At the same moment she was conscious of an almost overpowering odour of incense, something that Gloria never used, she knew.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading At the same moment she was conscious of an almost overpowering odour of incense, something that Gloria never used, she knew.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading At the same moment she was conscious of an almost overpowering odour of incense, something that Gloria never used, she knew.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the same moment she was conscious of an almost overpowering odour of incense, something that Gloria never used, she knew.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
overpoweringadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərˈpaʊrɪŋ/
so strong as to be irresistible
From this reading At the same moment she was conscious of an almost overpowering odour of incense, something that Gloria never used, she knew.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading She was huddled up, with clasped arms, weaving to and fro and moaning inarticulate prayers, while her eyes rolled wildly about in her head.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading She was huddled up, with clasped arms, weaving to and fro and moaning inarticulate prayers, while her eyes rolled wildly about in her head.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the same moment she was conscious of an almost overpowering odour of incense, something that Gloria never used, she knew.
except for; apart from
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
not often
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading At the same moment she was conscious of an almost overpowering odour of incense, something that Gloria never used, she knew.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
required or under orders
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading At the same moment she was conscious of an almost overpowering odour of incense, something that Gloria never used, she knew.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
nonexistent
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The house was quite silent and dark, save for one dim light burning in the hall, and this light seemed to illumine a thick blue haze or smoke that floated out enveloping her as she paused on the threshold.
weavingnounUS /ˈwiːvɪŋ/
creating fabric
From this reading She was huddled up, with clasped arms, weaving to and fro and moaning inarticulate prayers, while her eyes rolled wildly about in her head.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading She was huddled up, with clasped arms, weaving to and fro and moaning inarticulate prayers, while her eyes rolled wildly about in her head.
which person or people
From this reading She stood a moment peering through the blue haze until she made out a figure crouching on the stairs, not George as she at first supposed, but Amy, who seldom showed herself in the front of the house.
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading She was huddled up, with clasped arms, weaving to and fro and moaning inarticulate prayers, while her eyes rolled wildly about in her head.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Ruth entered the house with her own key, which she had taken, not wanting to keep George waiting up to open the door for her.
