used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
attemptingverbUS /əˈtemptɪŋ/
-ing form of “attempt” — make an effort or attempt
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
the two together, not just one
From this reading The logs were both long and heavy.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "You, Charlie," she called, shrilly.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
Charlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You, Charlie," she called, shrilly.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Come 'ere and fix this fire."
CORBIN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
CRESTnounUS /krest/
the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
an old word for “before”
From this reading "Come 'ere and fix this fire."
well known or easily recognized
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
start firing a weapon
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading "Come 'ere and fix this fire."
footstepnounUS /ˈfʊtstep/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
the act of departing
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The logs were both long and heavy.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
laggingnounUS /ˈlæɡɪŋ/
insulation used to wrap around pipes or boilers or laid in attics to prevent loss of heat
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
set down according to a plan
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading The logs were both long and heavy.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The logs were both long and heavy.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
MARTHA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "You, Charlie," she called, shrilly.
shrillyadverb
in a shrill voice
From this reading "You, Charlie," she called, shrilly.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Come 'ere and fix this fire."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
tongsnounUS /tɑːŋz/
any of various devices for taking hold of objects; usually have two hinged legs with handles above and pointed hooks below
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before attempting to lift one her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar lagging footstep going in the direction of the back hall.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The logs were both long and heavy.
wood-basket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLACK CREST MARTHA CORBIN laid down the brass fire tongs and turned to look at the wood-basket by the hearth.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You, Charlie," she called, shrilly.
