used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Inside the house there was always a hush, a heavy quiet--restful to the brain.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading But now a voice was raised, young, angry, impatient, in one of the gray-walled rooms.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading Inside the house there was always a hush, a heavy quiet--restful to the brain.
broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But now a voice was raised, young, angry, impatient, in one of the gray-walled rooms.
carpetsnounUS /ˈkɑːrpəts/
plural of “carpet” — floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
corridorsnounUS /ˈkɔːrɪdərz/
plural of “corridor” — an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
enclose with a fence
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Yes, I rang for you.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
gray-walled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But now a voice was raised, young, angry, impatient, in one of the gray-walled rooms.
groundsnounUS /ɡraʊndz/
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Inside the house there was always a hush, a heavy quiet--restful to the brain.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
become quiet or still; fall silent
From this reading Inside the house there was always a hush, a heavy quiet--restful to the brain.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Yes, I rang for you.
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading But now a voice was raised, young, angry, impatient, in one of the gray-walled rooms.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But now a voice was raised, young, angry, impatient, in one of the gray-walled rooms.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Inside the house there was always a hush, a heavy quiet--restful to the brain.
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
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 The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
mournfuladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrnfəl/
expressing sorrow
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
nearbyadjectiveUS /ˈnɪrˈbaɪ/
close at hand
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now a voice was raised, young, angry, impatient, in one of the gray-walled rooms.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Inside the house there was always a hush, a heavy quiet--restful to the brain.
railroadnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊd/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading But now a voice was raised, young, angry, impatient, in one of the gray-walled rooms.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading "Yes, I rang for you.
restfuladjectiveUS /ˈrestfəl/
affording physical or mental rest
From this reading Inside the house there was always a hush, a heavy quiet--restful to the brain.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Inside the house there was always a hush, a heavy quiet--restful to the brain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Inside the house there was always a hush, a heavy quiet--restful to the brain.
torpidadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrpəd/
slow and apathetic
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
create by training and teaching
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading But now a voice was raised, young, angry, impatient, in one of the gray-walled rooms.
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 The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
in or at the place that
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The house where the long trail started was one of gray walls, gray rooms and gray corridors, with carpets that muffled the feet which at intervals passed along them.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading It was a house of silence, brooding within the high fence that shut it and the grounds from a landscape torpid under the hot sun of summer, and across which occasionally drifted the lonely, mournful whistle of a train on a nearby railroad.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, I rang for you.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Yes, I rang for you.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading But now a voice was raised, young, angry, impatient, in one of the gray-walled rooms.
