used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
assaultnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading The young man took a bedroom candle from a table at the stairfoot, lit it, and motioned the General to precede him.
brilliancenounUS /ˈbrɪljəns/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading ‘This is your room, sir,’ the young man said when they came to the end of the corridor on which they had entered.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading The young man took a bedroom candle from a table at the stairfoot, lit it, and motioned the General to precede him.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading ‘This is your room, sir,’ the young man said when they came to the end of the corridor on which they had entered.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
droopingadjectiveUS /ˈdruːpɪŋ/
weak from exhaustion
From this reading Polson followed, drooping.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading ‘This is your room, sir,’ the young man said when they came to the end of the corridor on which they had entered.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading ‘This is your room, sir,’ the young man said when they came to the end of the corridor on which they had entered.
escaladenounUS /ˌeskəˈlɑːd/
an act of scaling by the use of ladders (especially the walls of a fortification)
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
flaringadjectiveUS /ˈflerɪŋ/
streaming or flapping or spreading wide as if in a current of air
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
flickeringadjectiveUS /ˈflɪkərɪŋ/
shining unsteadily
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Polson followed, drooping.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The young man took a bedroom candle from a table at the stairfoot, lit it, and motioned the General to precede him.
gaitnounUS /ɡeɪt/
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ‘This is your room, sir,’ the young man said when they came to the end of the corridor on which they had entered.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
headingnounUS /ˈhedɪŋ/
a line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The young man took a bedroom candle from a table at the stairfoot, lit it, and motioned the General to precede him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘This is your room, sir,’ the young man said when they came to the end of the corridor on which they had entered.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The young man took a bedroom candle from a table at the stairfoot, lit it, and motioned the General to precede him.
the act of departing
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
provided with artificial light
From this reading The young man took a bedroom candle from a table at the stairfoot, lit it, and motioned the General to precede him.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The young man took a bedroom candle from a table at the stairfoot, lit it, and motioned the General to precede him.
marchedverbUS /mɑːrtʃt/
past form of “march” — march in a procession
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
motionedverbUS /ˈmoʊʃənd/
past form of “motion” — show, express or direct through movement
From this reading The young man took a bedroom candle from a table at the stairfoot, lit it, and motioned the General to precede him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
oil-lamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ‘This is your room, sir,’ the young man said when they came to the end of the corridor on which they had entered.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
Polson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
precedeverbUS /prɪˈsiːd/
be earlier in time; go back further
From this reading The young man took a bedroom candle from a table at the stairfoot, lit it, and motioned the General to precede him.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading ‘This is your room, sir,’ the young man said when they came to the end of the corridor on which they had entered.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘This is your room, sir,’ the young man said when they came to the end of the corridor on which they had entered.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
term of address for a man
From this reading ‘This is your room, sir,’ the young man said when they came to the end of the corridor on which they had entered.
squaredadjectiveUS /skwerd/
having been made square
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
stairfoot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young man took a bedroom candle from a table at the stairfoot, lit it, and motioned the General to precede him.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The young man took a bedroom candle from a table at the stairfoot, lit it, and motioned the General to precede him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘This is your room, sir,’ the young man said when they came to the end of the corridor on which they had entered.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading ‘This is your room, sir,’ the young man said when they came to the end of the corridor on which they had entered.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The young man took a bedroom candle from a table at the stairfoot, lit it, and motioned the General to precede him.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The young man took a bedroom candle from a table at the stairfoot, lit it, and motioned the General to precede him.
in the direction of
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
uncertainlyadverbUS /ənˈsɜːrtənli/
in an unsteady manner
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
unwontedadjective
unaccustomed or unusual
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
on a floor above
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He, altogether military in gait, with his shoulders squared to the utmost, marched upstairs as if he were heading an assault by escalade.
at the time that
From this reading ‘This is your room, sir,’ the young man said when they came to the end of the corridor on which they had entered.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The oil-lamp which hung in the hall was flickering uncertainly as Polson and the General walked towards the foot of the staircase, leaving the passage in darkness for a second or two at a time, and then flaring up with an unwonted brilliance.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The young man took a bedroom candle from a table at the stairfoot, lit it, and motioned the General to precede him.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘This is your room, sir,’ the young man said when they came to the end of the corridor on which they had entered.
