used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His fingers hammered out a tattoo on the pane.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading His eyes were fixed on the windows of the chambers across the court.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading SHADOWS Robert Greve stood for an instant in silence by the window of his rooms.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
bricknounUS /brɪk/
rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading SHADOWS Robert Greve stood for an instant in silence by the window of his rooms.
casements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
chambersnounUS /ˈtʃeɪmbərz/
English architect (1723-1796)
From this reading His eyes were fixed on the windows of the chambers across the court.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading His eyes were fixed on the windows of the chambers across the court.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes were fixed on the windows of the chambers across the court.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading His fingers hammered out a tattoo on the pane.
fixverbUS /fɪks/
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading His eyes were fixed on the windows of the chambers across the court.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading SHADOWS Robert Greve stood for an instant in silence by the window of his rooms.
Greve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHADOWS Robert Greve stood for an instant in silence by the window of his rooms.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
hammeredadjectiveUS /ˈhæmərd/
shaped or worked with a hammer and often showing hammer marks
From this reading His fingers hammered out a tattoo on the pane.
Harkings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
HartleynounUS /ˈhɑːrtli/
English philosopher who introduced the theory of the association of ideas (1705-1757)
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading SHADOWS Robert Greve stood for an instant in silence by the window of his rooms.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SHADOWS Robert Greve stood for an instant in silence by the window of his rooms.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading SHADOWS Robert Greve stood for an instant in silence by the window of his rooms.
ivy-framed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
a room where books are kept
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
mellowadjectiveUS /ˈmeloʊ/
unhurried and relaxed
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SHADOWS Robert Greve stood for an instant in silence by the window of his rooms.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His fingers hammered out a tattoo on the pane.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading His fingers hammered out a tattoo on the pane.
panenounUS /peɪn/
sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading His fingers hammered out a tattoo on the pane.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
Parrish's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
photographverbUS /ˈfoʊtəɡræf/
record on photographic film
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
the possibility of future success
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading SHADOWS Robert Greve stood for an instant in silence by the window of his rooms.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading SHADOWS Robert Greve stood for an instant in silence by the window of his rooms.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading SHADOWS Robert Greve stood for an instant in silence by the window of his rooms.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading SHADOWS Robert Greve stood for an instant in silence by the window of his rooms.
slateyadjective
of the color of slate or granite
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading SHADOWS Robert Greve stood for an instant in silence by the window of his rooms.
carry out
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
tattoonounUS /ˌtæˈtuː/
a drumbeat or bugle call that signals the military to return to their quarters
From this reading His fingers hammered out a tattoo on the pane.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SHADOWS Robert Greve stood for an instant in silence by the window of his rooms.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
hard to endure
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
typewrittenverbUS /ˈtaɪprɪtən/
inflected form of “typewrite” — write by means of a keyboard with types
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading But they did not take in the pleasant prospect of the tall, ivy-framed casements in their mellow setting of warm red brick.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His eyes were fixed on the windows of the chambers across the court.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was trying to fix a mental photograph of a letter—typewritten on paper of dark slatey blue—which he had seen on Hartley Parrish’s desk in the library at Harkings on the previous afternoon.
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 SHADOWS Robert Greve stood for an instant in silence by the window of his rooms.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading His eyes were fixed on the windows of the chambers across the court.
