used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As a matter of fact, the story was too well constructed, and had but little reference to reality.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading There were still some embers alive under the ashes of the fire.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As a matter of fact, the story was too well constructed, and had but little reference to reality.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As a matter of fact, the story was too well constructed, and had but little reference to reality.
ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/
The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.
From this reading There were still some embers alive under the ashes of the fire.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
confessionnounUS /kənˈfeʃən/
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
constructedverbUS /kənˈstrʌktəd/
past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts
From this reading As a matter of fact, the story was too well constructed, and had but little reference to reality.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading In the drawing-room, Thérèse was sitting in the dark.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did not move.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the drawing-room, Thérèse was sitting in the dark.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
embersnounUS /ˈembərz/
plural of “ember” — a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering
From this reading There were still some embers alive under the ashes of the fire.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading As a matter of fact, the story was too well constructed, and had but little reference to reality.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
start firing a weapon
From this reading There were still some embers alive under the ashes of the fire.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the drawing-room, Thérèse was sitting in the dark.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As a matter of fact, the story was too well constructed, and had but little reference to reality.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading As a matter of fact, the story was too well constructed, and had but little reference to reality.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She did not move.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She did not move.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were still some embers alive under the ashes of the fire.
passagesnounUS /ˈpæsədʒəz/
plural of “passage” — the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading As a matter of fact, the story was too well constructed, and had but little reference to reality.
referencenounUS /ˈrefərəns/
a remark that calls attention to something or someone
From this reading As a matter of fact, the story was too well constructed, and had but little reference to reality.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She did not move.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading In the drawing-room, Thérèse was sitting in the dark.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There were still some embers alive under the ashes of the fire.
not in physical motion
From this reading There were still some embers alive under the ashes of the fire.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading As a matter of fact, the story was too well constructed, and had but little reference to reality.
strayverbUS /streɪ/
move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the drawing-room, Thérèse was sitting in the dark.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were still some embers alive under the ashes of the fire.
Thérèse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the drawing-room, Thérèse was sitting in the dark.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading There were still some embers alive under the ashes of the fire.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the drawing-room, Thérèse was sitting in the dark.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading As a matter of fact, the story was too well constructed, and had but little reference to reality.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were still some embers alive under the ashes of the fire.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now that it was too late, stray passages from the confession she had prepared during her journey, floated to the surface of her mind; but she could not find fault with herself for not having used it.
