used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
AbbeynounUS /ˈæbi/
a church associated with a monastery or convent
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
(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 Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
terminate
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
Dean'snounUS /diːnz/
possessive form of “dean” — an administrator in charge of a division of a university or college
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
Despard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
distractverbUS /dɪˈstrækt/
draw someone's attention away from something
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
DownstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
fillingnounUS /ˈfɪlɪŋ/
any material that fills a space or container
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
the act of departing
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
inaudibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnɔːdəbəl/
impossible to hear; imperceptible by the ear
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
LodgesnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒəz/
plural of “lodge” — English physicist who studied electromagnetic radiation and was a pioneer of radiotelegraphy (1851-1940)
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
Lottie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
maid-of-all-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
matinsnoun
the first canonical hour; at daybreak
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
a particular point in time
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
in motion
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
not any; not one
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
proceedingsnounUS /proʊˈsiːdɪŋz/
(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
only a very short time before
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
not in physical motion
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
swellverbUS /swel/
increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
possessing sweep
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
precisely as stated
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading VISITORS.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
in or at the place that
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
in the company of; together with
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
