used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The paint and woodwork about the door were new.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
beamedverbUS /biːmd/
past form of “beam” — smile radiantly; express joy through one's facial expression
From this reading A smug respectability beamed from the windows and out of the courtyard.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading This hotel had fallen upon better days.
brisklyadverbUS /ˈbrɪskli/
in a brisk manner
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
lacking funds
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
celebritiesnounUS /səˈlebrɪtiz/
plural of “celebrity” — a widely known person
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading A smug respectability beamed from the windows and out of the courtyard.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading This hotel had fallen upon better days.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
docksnounUS /dɑːks/
plural of “dock” — an enclosure in a court of law where the defendant sits during the trial
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The paint and woodwork about the door were new.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading This hotel had fallen upon better days.
FaynounUS /feɪ/
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This hotel had fallen upon better days.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
HollandnounUS /ˈhɑːlənd/
a constitutional monarchy in western Europe on the North Sea; half the country lies below sea level
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
internationaladjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈnæʃənəl/
concerning or belonging to all or at least two or more nations
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
LURKINGverbUS /ˈlɜːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “lurk” — lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
mistsnounUS /mɪsts/
plural of “mist” — a thin fog with condensation near the ground
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The paint and woodwork about the door were new.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A smug respectability beamed from the windows and out of the courtyard.
paintverbUS /peɪnt/
make a painting
From this reading The paint and woodwork about the door were new.
patronizedadjectiveUS /ˈpeɪtrənaɪzd/
having patronage or clients
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
quaysnounUS /kiːz/
plural of “quay” — wharf usually built parallel to the shoreline
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
respectabilitynounUS /riˌspektəˈbɪlɪti/
honorableness by virtue of being respectable and having a good reputation
From this reading A smug respectability beamed from the windows and out of the courtyard.
sanguineadjectiveUS /ˈsæŋɡwɪn/
confidently optimistic and cheerful
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
smugadjectiveUS /smʌɡ/
marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
From this reading A smug respectability beamed from the windows and out of the courtyard.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
strodeverbUS /stroʊd/
inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This hotel had fallen upon better days.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading LURKING SHADOWS A sanguine sun broke through the Holland mists as Fay strode briskly from the docks and quays and entered the ancient city.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
underworldnounUS /ˈʌndərwɜːrld/
the criminal class
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading This hotel had fallen upon better days.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The paint and woodwork about the door were new.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading A smug respectability beamed from the windows and out of the courtyard.
woodworknounUS /ˈwʊdwɜːrk/
work made of wood; especially moldings or stairways or furniture
From this reading The paint and woodwork about the door were new.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He took the first street which would lead him in the direction of a little hotel, at one time patronized by international celebrities of the underworld.
