used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was no need, he said to himself, to keep a lookout on a night like this.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading It was with difficulty that he was able to see his way.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All the better.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading All the better.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
bracedadjectiveUS /breɪst/
positioned so as to be ready for confrontation or danger
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
put or send forth
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading It was with difficulty that he was able to see his way.
drenchedadjectiveUS /drentʃt/
abundantly covered or supplied with; often used in combination
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
flickeringadjectiveUS /ˈflɪkərɪŋ/
shining unsteadily
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
ghostlikeadjectiveUS /ˈɡoʊstlaɪk/
resembling or characteristic of a phantom
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
gustsnounUS /ɡʌsts/
plural of “gust” — a strong current of air
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was with difficulty that he was able to see his way.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
icyadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsi/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was with difficulty that he was able to see his way.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading There was no need, he said to himself, to keep a lookout on a night like this.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading There was no need, he said to himself, to keep a lookout on a night like this.
lookoutnounUS /ˈlʊkaʊt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading There was no need, he said to himself, to keep a lookout on a night like this.
most important element
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
MortonnounUS /ˈmɔːrtən/
United States jazz musician who moved from ragtime to New Orleans jazz (1885-1941)
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
in motion
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading There was no need, he said to himself, to keep a lookout on a night like this.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading There was no need, he said to himself, to keep a lookout on a night like this.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no need, he said to himself, to keep a lookout on a night like this.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
oil-lamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was no need, he said to himself, to keep a lookout on a night like this.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading There was no need, he said to himself, to keep a lookout on a night like this.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was with difficulty that he was able to see his way.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
smokyadjectiveUS /ˈsmoʊki/
marked by or emitting or filled with smoke
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
squallsnounUS /skwɔːlz/
plural of “squall” — sudden violent winds; often accompanied by precipitation
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was with difficulty that he was able to see his way.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no need, he said to himself, to keep a lookout on a night like this.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was no need, he said to himself, to keep a lookout on a night like this.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was with difficulty that he was able to see his way.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was with difficulty that he was able to see his way.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was with difficulty that he was able to see his way.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Morton braced himself against the gusts of wind and squalls of icy rain which drenched his face and body.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was with difficulty that he was able to see his way.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading The flickering smoky flame of the oil-lamp over the main gate cast a faint yellow light around and threw ghostlike, moving shadows about the entrance.
