used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
(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 At last some one would yawn loudly, and the others laugh--and all go to bed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last some one would yawn loudly, and the others laugh--and all go to bed.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading At last some one would yawn loudly, and the others laugh--and all go to bed.
blunderingverbUS /ˈblʌndərɪŋ/
-ing form of “blunder” — commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
cigarettesnounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈets/
plural of “cigarette” — finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
creepverbUS /kriːp/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading They seldom spoke--the wind would howl, and the shadows would creep, and the night drift on through star-strewn silences.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
driftverbUS /drɪft/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading They seldom spoke--the wind would howl, and the shadows would creep, and the night drift on through star-strewn silences.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
eveningsnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/
plural of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
start firing a weapon
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
Furlongers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading At last some one would yawn loudly, and the others laugh--and all go to bed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
howlverbUS /haʊl/
emit long loud cries
From this reading They seldom spoke--the wind would howl, and the shadows would creep, and the night drift on through star-strewn silences.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
inspirationnounUS /ˌɪnspərˈeɪʃən/
arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
Janey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
conformity or harmony
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
immediately past
From this reading At last some one would yawn loudly, and the others laugh--and all go to bed.
the sound of laughing
From this reading At last some one would yawn loudly, and the others laugh--and all go to bed.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
Len
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
loudlyadverbUS /ˈlaʊdli/
with relatively high volume
From this reading At last some one would yawn loudly, and the others laugh--and all go to bed.
needleworknounUS /ˈniːdəlwɜːrk/
a creation created or assembled by needle and thread
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
newspapersnounUS /ˈnuːzpeɪpərz/
plural of “newspaper” — a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
Nigel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading They seldom spoke--the wind would howl, and the shadows would creep, and the night drift on through star-strewn silences.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They seldom spoke--the wind would howl, and the shadows would creep, and the night drift on through star-strewn silences.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At last some one would yawn loudly, and the others laugh--and all go to bed.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last some one would yawn loudly, and the others laugh--and all go to bed.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
pipely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
not often
From this reading They seldom spoke--the wind would howl, and the shadows would creep, and the night drift on through star-strewn silences.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading They seldom spoke--the wind would howl, and the shadows would creep, and the night drift on through star-strewn silences.
silencesnounUS /ˈsaɪlənsɪz/
plural of “silence” — the state of being silent (as when no one is speaking)
From this reading They seldom spoke--the wind would howl, and the shadows would creep, and the night drift on through star-strewn silences.
be seated
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading At last some one would yawn loudly, and the others laugh--and all go to bed.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading They seldom spoke--the wind would howl, and the shadows would creep, and the night drift on through star-strewn silences.
sprawlverbUS /sprɔːl/
sit or lie with one's limbs spread out
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
star-strewn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They seldom spoke--the wind would howl, and the shadows would creep, and the night drift on through star-strewn silences.
stareverbUS /ster/
look at with fixed eyes
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They seldom spoke--the wind would howl, and the shadows would creep, and the night drift on through star-strewn silences.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading They seldom spoke--the wind would howl, and the shadows would creep, and the night drift on through star-strewn silences.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading KEEPING CHRISTMAS Every evening the three Furlongers used to sit by the fire and stare into it.
under normal conditions
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading They seldom spoke--the wind would howl, and the shadows would creep, and the night drift on through star-strewn silences.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
worriedadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrid/
afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
From this reading Len was worried about Nigel and Janey, and usually devoted these evenings and their pipely inspiration to thinking them out in a blundering way.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Len would sprawl back in his chair with his pipe, and the other two lean forward with needlework and newspapers and cigarettes.
yawnverbUS /jɔːn/
utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired
From this reading At last some one would yawn loudly, and the others laugh--and all go to bed.
