used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
(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 She had heard it all her life.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
in a state of sleep
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
a flexible container with a single opening
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
chainsnounUS /tʃeɪnz/
metal shackles; for hands or legs
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
without doubt or question
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading The old clock in Nurse Macdonald's tower struck midnight.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
being one more than ten
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
footstoolnoun
a low seat or a stool to rest the feet of a seated person
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had heard it all her life.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
hammernounUS /ˈhæmər/
the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She had heard it all her life.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The old clock in Nurse Macdonald's tower struck midnight.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She had heard it all her life.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
jarringadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɑːrɪŋ/
making or causing a harsh and irritating sound
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
levernounUS /ˈlevər/
a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She had heard it all her life.
held up in the air
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
Macdonald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
Macdonald's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old clock in Nurse Macdonald's tower struck midnight.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading The old clock in Nurse Macdonald's tower struck midnight.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading The old clock in Nurse Macdonald's tower struck midnight.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old clock in Nurse Macdonald's tower struck midnight.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
rustyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌsti/
covered with or consisting of rust
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
strokesnounUS /stroʊks/
plural of “stroke” — (sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The old clock in Nurse Macdonald's tower struck midnight.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The old clock in Nurse Macdonald's tower struck midnight.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading The old clock in Nurse Macdonald's tower struck midnight.
twelfthadjectiveUS /twelfθ/
coming next after the eleventh and just before the thirteenth in position
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The old cat got up from the bag footstool and stretched itself, and Nurse Macdonald opened her ancient eyes and looked slowly round the room by the dim light of the night lamp.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
weightsnounUS /weɪts/
plural of “weight” — the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading From her room she could hear the creaking chains and weights in their box in the corner of the staircase, and overhead the jarring of the rusty lever that lifted the hammer.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It struck eleven strokes clearly, and then came the twelfth, with a dull half stroke, as though the hammer were too weary to go on, and had fallen asleep against the bell.
