used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
quickly and without warning
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Marry-me-quick was an ancient, wizened, little woman, so small that she hardly escaped being a dwarf, humpbacked, and inexpressibly ugly.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
assuredlyadverbUS /əˈʃʊrədli/
without a doubt
From this reading In times not so long gone by she would assuredly have burned as a witch, and many supposed her to be in league with the evil one.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In times not so long gone by she would assuredly have burned as a witch, and many supposed her to be in league with the evil one.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Marry-me-quick was an ancient, wizened, little woman, so small that she hardly escaped being a dwarf, humpbacked, and inexpressibly ugly.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading By the time I returned with Mistress Waynflete she had shuttered the window of the shop, snuffed the candles, and stirred the fire into a blaze.
bridge-end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading In times not so long gone by she would assuredly have burned as a witch, and many supposed her to be in league with the evil one.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
candlesnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading By the time I returned with Mistress Waynflete she had shuttered the window of the shop, snuffed the candles, and stirred the fire into a blaze.
gotten under control
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
a small house with a single story
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
curvenounUS /kɜːrv/
the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
dwarfnounUS /dwɔːrf/
a person who is markedly small
From this reading Marry-me-quick was an ancient, wizened, little woman, so small that she hardly escaped being a dwarf, humpbacked, and inexpressibly ugly.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading Marry-me-quick was an ancient, wizened, little woman, so small that she hardly escaped being a dwarf, humpbacked, and inexpressibly ugly.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading In times not so long gone by she would assuredly have burned as a witch, and many supposed her to be in league with the evil one.
start firing a weapon
From this reading By the time I returned with Mistress Waynflete she had shuttered the window of the shop, snuffed the candles, and stirred the fire into a blaze.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
set up or found
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
frontingverbUS /ˈfrʌntɪŋ/
-ing form of “front” — be oriented in a certain direction, often with respect to another reference point; be opposite to
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
destroyed or killed
From this reading In times not so long gone by she would assuredly have burned as a witch, and many supposed her to be in league with the evil one.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
only a very short time before
From this reading Marry-me-quick was an ancient, wizened, little woman, so small that she hardly escaped being a dwarf, humpbacked, and inexpressibly ugly.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In times not so long gone by she would assuredly have burned as a witch, and many supposed her to be in league with the evil one.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
humpbackedadjective
characteristic of or suffering from kyphosis, an abnormality of the vertebral column
From this reading Marry-me-quick was an ancient, wizened, little woman, so small that she hardly escaped being a dwarf, humpbacked, and inexpressibly ugly.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
inexpressiblyadverb
to an inexpressible degree
From this reading Marry-me-quick was an ancient, wizened, little woman, so small that she hardly escaped being a dwarf, humpbacked, and inexpressibly ugly.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading By the time I returned with Mistress Waynflete she had shuttered the window of the shop, snuffed the candles, and stirred the fire into a blaze.
a narrow way or road
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
leaguenounUS /liːɡ/
an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members
From this reading In times not so long gone by she would assuredly have burned as a witch, and many supposed her to be in league with the evil one.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading In times not so long gone by she would assuredly have burned as a witch, and many supposed her to be in league with the evil one.
most important element
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
manufacturedadjectiveUS /ˌmænjəˈfæktʃərd/
produced in a large-scale industrial operation
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading In times not so long gone by she would assuredly have burned as a witch, and many supposed her to be in league with the evil one.
marry-me-quick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In times not so long gone by she would assuredly have burned as a witch, and many supposed her to be in league with the evil one.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
and nothing more
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading By the time I returned with Mistress Waynflete she had shuttered the window of the shop, snuffed the candles, and stirred the fire into a blaze.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
servingnounUS /ˈsɜːrvɪŋ/
an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
do one's shopping
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
shutteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃʌtərd/
provided with shutters or shutters as specified; often used in combination
From this reading By the time I returned with Mistress Waynflete she had shuttered the window of the shop, snuffed the candles, and stirred the fire into a blaze.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Marry-me-quick was an ancient, wizened, little woman, so small that she hardly escaped being a dwarf, humpbacked, and inexpressibly ugly.
snuffedverbUS /snʌft/
past form of “snuff” — sniff or smell inquiringly
From this reading By the time I returned with Mistress Waynflete she had shuttered the window of the shop, snuffed the candles, and stirred the fire into a blaze.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Marry-me-quick was an ancient, wizened, little woman, so small that she hardly escaped being a dwarf, humpbacked, and inexpressibly ugly.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading By the time I returned with Mistress Waynflete she had shuttered the window of the shop, snuffed the candles, and stirred the fire into a blaze.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
required or under orders
From this reading In times not so long gone by she would assuredly have burned as a witch, and many supposed her to be in league with the evil one.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Marry-me-quick was an ancient, wizened, little woman, so small that she hardly escaped being a dwarf, humpbacked, and inexpressibly ugly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading By the time I returned with Mistress Waynflete she had shuttered the window of the shop, snuffed the candles, and stirred the fire into a blaze.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading In times not so long gone by she would assuredly have burned as a witch, and many supposed her to be in league with the evil one.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
Tonks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading Marry-me-quick was an ancient, wizened, little woman, so small that she hardly escaped being a dwarf, humpbacked, and inexpressibly ugly.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Marry-me-quick was an ancient, wizened, little woman, so small that she hardly escaped being a dwarf, humpbacked, and inexpressibly ugly.
Waynflete
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By the time I returned with Mistress Waynflete she had shuttered the window of the shop, snuffed the candles, and stirred the fire into a blaze.
in or at the place that
From this reading THE ANCIENT HIGH HOUSE I had found Mistress Tonks in her little back room, where she manufactured marry-me-quick by day and slept by night.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Her cottage contained only one other room, serving as shop and living room, and fronting on a narrow lane which turned abruptly from the main street at the bridge-end to follow the curve of the walls.
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 By the time I returned with Mistress Waynflete she had shuttered the window of the shop, snuffed the candles, and stirred the fire into a blaze.
witchnounUS /wɪtʃ/
a female sorcerer or magician
From this reading In times not so long gone by she would assuredly have burned as a witch, and many supposed her to be in league with the evil one.
in the company of; together with
From this reading By the time I returned with Mistress Waynflete she had shuttered the window of the shop, snuffed the candles, and stirred the fire into a blaze.
wizenedadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪzənd/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading Marry-me-quick was an ancient, wizened, little woman, so small that she hardly escaped being a dwarf, humpbacked, and inexpressibly ugly.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Marry-me-quick was an ancient, wizened, little woman, so small that she hardly escaped being a dwarf, humpbacked, and inexpressibly ugly.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In times not so long gone by she would assuredly have burned as a witch, and many supposed her to be in league with the evil one.
