used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
a-tremble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
anew
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
(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 To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
react verbally
From this reading To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And all the while the room behind the door was as empty of life as a hatched egg-shell.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
ayahnoun
(in India) a native nursemaid who looks after children
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading And all the while the room behind the door was as empty of life as a hatched egg-shell.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
bloodshotadjective
(of an eye) reddened as a result of locally congested blood vessels; inflamed
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
BombaynounUS /bɑːmˈbeɪ/
a city in western India just off the coast of the Arabian Sea; India's 2nd largest city (after Calcutta); has the only natural deep-water harbor in western India
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
eat an early morning meal
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
bungalownounUS /ˈbʌŋɡəloʊ/
a small house with a single story
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
comersnounUS /ˈkʌmərz/
plural of “comer” — someone with a promising future
From this reading To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
compoundnounUS /ˈkɑːmpaʊnd/
a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
darkestadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkəst/
superlative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
a special loved one
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
the first light of day
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
having the place or position changed
From this reading To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
egg-shell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And all the while the room behind the door was as empty of life as a hatched egg-shell.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading And all the while the room behind the door was as empty of life as a hatched egg-shell.
escortingverbUS /ˈeskɔːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “escort” — accompany as an escort
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
opinion or judgment
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
guardingverbUS /ˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “guard” — to keep watch over
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
hatchedadjectiveUS /hætʃt/
emerged from an egg
From this reading And all the while the room behind the door was as empty of life as a hatched egg-shell.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading And all the while the room behind the door was as empty of life as a hatched egg-shell.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
mem-sahib
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
mistress's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
a form of address for a man
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
NinanounUS /ˈniːnə/
the Babylonian goddess of the watery deep and daughter of Ea
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
Nina's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
not any; not one
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
on one occasion
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
paradenounUS /pərˈeɪd/
a ceremonial procession including people marching
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
Ramsays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
refugenounUS /ˈrefjuːdʒ/
a safe place
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
Identical; not different.
From this reading To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
ScrippsnounUS /skrɪps/
United States newspaper publisher who founded an important press association; half-brother of James Edmund Scripps (1854-1926)
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
shelteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃeltərd/
protected from danger or bad weather
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
the state of being asleep
From this reading To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading She gave it to Colonel Darling no less than three times--once before breakfast, once after, and again before he rode away for parade, his eyes bloodshot and his hands all a-tremble.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
veiledadjectiveUS /veɪld/
having or as if having a veil or concealing cover
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
wakefulnessnoun
a periodic state during which you are conscious and aware of the world
From this reading To all comers she gave the same answer--her _mem-sahib_ was sleeping after a night of wakefulness and must not be disturbed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A Hard Man and Bitter It was the next morning, and Nina's _ayah_ sat on a chair in the passage, guarding the door of her mistress's room.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading And all the while the room behind the door was as empty of life as a hatched egg-shell.
which person or people
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
in the company of; together with
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading For in the darkest hour of a gray dawn, closely veiled, Nina had stolen away with her _ayah_ escorting, and had taken refuge with the Ramsays, who had a small bungalow within the hotel compound--the same hotel, be it added, which sheltered "Mr. Henry Scripps, Bombay."
