used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Outside an ice-tipped vine struck with a ghostly tap! tap! tap! against the diamond-paned window.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Outside an ice-tipped vine struck with a ghostly tap! tap! tap! against the diamond-paned window.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Stephen stood with his back to the fireplace.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Geraldine sat beside Peter Courtlandt.
blotnounUS /blɑːt/
a blemish made by dirt
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
bulbousadjectiveUS /ˈbʌlbəs/
shaped like a bulb
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
Caleb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
Courtlandt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Geraldine sat beside Peter Courtlandt.
diamond-paned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside an ice-tipped vine struck with a ghostly tap! tap! tap! against the diamond-paned window.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
Fairfax
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading Stephen stood with his back to the fireplace.
Geraldine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Geraldine sat beside Peter Courtlandt.
ghostlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊstli/
resembling or characteristic of a phantom
From this reading Outside an ice-tipped vine struck with a ghostly tap! tap! tap! against the diamond-paned window.
half-moonnoun
the crescent-shaped area at the base of the human fingernail
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
ice-tipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside an ice-tipped vine struck with a ghostly tap! tap! tap! against the diamond-paned window.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
Lawson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
a room where books are kept
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
ManornounUS /ˈmænər/
the mansion of a lord or wealthy person
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
NicholasnounUS /ˈnɪkələs/
a bishop in Asia Minor who is associated with Santa Claus (4th century)
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Outside an ice-tipped vine struck with a ghostly tap! tap! tap! against the diamond-paned window.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
peernounUS /pɪr/
a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading Geraldine sat beside Peter Courtlandt.
pursedverbUS /pɜːrst/
past form of “purse” — contract one's lips into a rounded shape
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Geraldine sat beside Peter Courtlandt.
spectaclesnounUS /ˈspektəkəlz/
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading Stephen stood with his back to the fireplace.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Stephen stood with his back to the fireplace.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Outside an ice-tipped vine struck with a ghostly tap! tap! tap! against the diamond-paned window.
tapverbUS /tæp/
cut a female screw thread with a tap
From this reading Outside an ice-tipped vine struck with a ghostly tap! tap! tap! against the diamond-paned window.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading His pursed lips made a red, bulbous blot on his pale face as he regarded the three persons in the library at the Manor.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
vinenounUS /vaɪn/
a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
From this reading Outside an ice-tipped vine struck with a ghostly tap! tap! tap! against the diamond-paned window.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Caleb Lawson paused in the reading of the will of Nicholas Fairfax to peer over his half-moon spectacles.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Outside an ice-tipped vine struck with a ghostly tap! tap! tap! against the diamond-paned window.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Outside an ice-tipped vine struck with a ghostly tap! tap! tap! against the diamond-paned window.
