used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was about three in the morning.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The lights had been extinguished in the ball-room, and the house was still.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The casements of sleeping-rooms were darkening one by one as their inmates composed themselves to rest.
ball-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lights had been extinguished in the ball-room, and the house was still.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The lights had been extinguished in the ball-room, and the house was still.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The casements of sleeping-rooms were darkening one by one as their inmates composed themselves to rest.
casements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The casements of sleeping-rooms were darkening one by one as their inmates composed themselves to rest.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading The casements of sleeping-rooms were darkening one by one as their inmates composed themselves to rest.
darkeningadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənɪŋ/
becoming dark or darker as from waning light or clouding over
From this reading The casements of sleeping-rooms were darkening one by one as their inmates composed themselves to rest.
extinguishedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/
of a conditioned response; caused to die out because of the absence or withdrawal of reinforcement
From this reading The lights had been extinguished in the ball-room, and the house was still.
footfallnounUS /ˈfʊtfɔːl/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
gallerynounUS /ˈɡæləri/
spectators at a golf or tennis match
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The lights had been extinguished in the ball-room, and the house was still.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The lights had been extinguished in the ball-room, and the house was still.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was about three in the morning.
inmatesnounUS /ˈɪnmeɪts/
plural of “inmate” — one of several resident of a dwelling (especially someone confined to a prison or hospital)
From this reading The casements of sleeping-rooms were darkening one by one as their inmates composed themselves to rest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was about three in the morning.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading The lights had been extinguished in the ball-room, and the house was still.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
monotonousadjectiveUS /məˈnɑːtənəs/
tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was about three in the morning.
NAHANT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TO NAHANT?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The casements of sleeping-rooms were darkening one by one as their inmates composed themselves to rest.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The casements of sleeping-rooms were darkening one by one as their inmates composed themselves to rest.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The casements of sleeping-rooms were darkening one by one as their inmates composed themselves to rest.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
sleeping-rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The casements of sleeping-rooms were darkening one by one as their inmates composed themselves to rest.
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
not in physical motion
From this reading The lights had been extinguished in the ball-room, and the house was still.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was about three in the morning.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The casements of sleeping-rooms were darkening one by one as their inmates composed themselves to rest.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The casements of sleeping-rooms were darkening one by one as their inmates composed themselves to rest.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It was about three in the morning.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
ticknounUS /tɪk/
a metallic tapping sound
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
timbersnounUS /ˈtɪmbərz/
plural of “timber” — the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TO NAHANT?
vibrationsnounUS /vaɪˈbreɪʃənz/
plural of “vibration” — the act of vibrating
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was about three in the morning.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The casements of sleeping-rooms were darkening one by one as their inmates composed themselves to rest.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading A footfall on the gallery outside mingled with the tick of the clock on the staircase, which, in the stillness of the hour, sent monotonous vibrations through the timbers of the wooden house.
