used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The shrill hum of a mosquito explored the place and grew shriller in indignation at Woodhouse's ointment.
(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 Then the lantern went out and all the observatory was black.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The shrill hum of a mosquito explored the place and grew shriller in indignation at Woodhouse's ointment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The shrill hum of a mosquito explored the place and grew shriller in indignation at Woodhouse's ointment.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Woodhouse shifted his position presently, when the slow movement of the telescope had carried it beyond the limits of his comfort.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Then the lantern went out and all the observatory was black.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Woodhouse shifted his position presently, when the slow movement of the telescope had carried it beyond the limits of his comfort.
a person who is in charge
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
clockworknounUS /ˈklɑːkwɜːrk/
any mechanism of geared wheels that is driven by a coiled spring; resembles the works of a mechanical clock
From this reading The clockwork ticked steadily.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading Woodhouse shifted his position presently, when the slow movement of the telescope had carried it beyond the limits of his comfort.
exploredverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːrd/
past form of “explore” — inquire into
From this reading The shrill hum of a mosquito explored the place and grew shriller in indignation at Woodhouse's ointment.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading The shrill hum of a mosquito explored the place and grew shriller in indignation at Woodhouse's ointment.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Woodhouse shifted his position presently, when the slow movement of the telescope had carried it beyond the limits of his comfort.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Woodhouse shifted his position presently, when the slow movement of the telescope had carried it beyond the limits of his comfort.
humverbUS /hʌm/
sing with closed lips
From this reading The shrill hum of a mosquito explored the place and grew shriller in indignation at Woodhouse's ointment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The shrill hum of a mosquito explored the place and grew shriller in indignation at Woodhouse's ointment.
a feeling of righteous anger
From this reading The shrill hum of a mosquito explored the place and grew shriller in indignation at Woodhouse's ointment.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Woodhouse shifted his position presently, when the slow movement of the telescope had carried it beyond the limits of his comfort.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading Then the lantern went out and all the observatory was black.
limitsnounUS /ˈlɪməts/
plural of “limit” — the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading Woodhouse shifted his position presently, when the slow movement of the telescope had carried it beyond the limits of his comfort.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
MilkyadjectiveUS /ˈmɪlki/
resembling milk in color; not clear
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
mosquitonounUS /məˈskiːtoʊ/
two-winged insect whose female has a long proboscis to pierce the skin and suck the blood of humans and animals
From this reading The shrill hum of a mosquito explored the place and grew shriller in indignation at Woodhouse's ointment.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Woodhouse shifted his position presently, when the slow movement of the telescope had carried it beyond the limits of his comfort.
observatorynounUS /əbˈzɜːrvətɔːri/
a building designed and equipped to observe astronomical phenomena
From this reading Then the lantern went out and all the observatory was black.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The shrill hum of a mosquito explored the place and grew shriller in indignation at Woodhouse's ointment.
ointmentnounUS /ˈɔɪntmənt/
semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation
From this reading The shrill hum of a mosquito explored the place and grew shriller in indignation at Woodhouse's ointment.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Then the lantern went out and all the observatory was black.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The shrill hum of a mosquito explored the place and grew shriller in indignation at Woodhouse's ointment.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Woodhouse shifted his position presently, when the slow movement of the telescope had carried it beyond the limits of his comfort.
in the near future
From this reading Woodhouse shifted his position presently, when the slow movement of the telescope had carried it beyond the limits of his comfort.
unusual or striking
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
shiftedverbUS /ˈʃɪftɪd/
past form of “shift” — make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading Woodhouse shifted his position presently, when the slow movement of the telescope had carried it beyond the limits of his comfort.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading The shrill hum of a mosquito explored the place and grew shriller in indignation at Woodhouse's ointment.
shriller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shrill hum of a mosquito explored the place and grew shriller in indignation at Woodhouse's ointment.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading Woodhouse shifted his position presently, when the slow movement of the telescope had carried it beyond the limits of his comfort.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading The clockwork ticked steadily.
telescopeverbUS /ˈteləskoʊp/
crush together or collapse
From this reading Woodhouse shifted his position presently, when the slow movement of the telescope had carried it beyond the limits of his comfort.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The clockwork ticked steadily.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the lantern went out and all the observatory was black.
tickedverbUS /tɪkt/
past form of “tick” — make a clicking or ticking sound
From this reading The clockwork ticked steadily.
variabilitynounUS /veriəˈbɪlɪti/
the quality of being subject to variation
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then the lantern went out and all the observatory was black.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Then the lantern went out and all the observatory was black.
at the time that
From this reading Woodhouse shifted his position presently, when the slow movement of the telescope had carried it beyond the limits of his comfort.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was watching a little group of stars in the Milky Way, in one of which his chief had seen or fancied a remarkable colour variability.
Woodhouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Woodhouse shifted his position presently, when the slow movement of the telescope had carried it beyond the limits of his comfort.
Woodhouse's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shrill hum of a mosquito explored the place and grew shriller in indignation at Woodhouse's ointment.
