used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
artificialadjectiveUS /ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəl/
contrived by art rather than nature
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
balustrades
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
barsnounUS /bɑːrz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
Bosworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
lacking funds
From this reading Then he broke into the notes of some opera-song.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
detectedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtektəd/
perceived or discerned
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
FANCIESnounUS /ˈfænsiz/
plural of “fancy” — something many people believe that is false
From this reading SICK-BED FANCIES.
a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then he broke into the notes of some opera-song.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
high-posted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then he broke into the notes of some opera-song.
invalidnounUS /ˈɪnvələd/
someone who is incapacitated by a chronic illness or injury
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
without good reason
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
plural of “note” — a brief written record
From this reading Then he broke into the notes of some opera-song.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
opera-song
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he broke into the notes of some opera-song.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
SICK-BED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SICK-BED FANCIES.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Then he broke into the notes of some opera-song.
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
the rays of the sun
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
surmountedadjectiveUS /sərˈmaʊntɪd/
having something on top
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he broke into the notes of some opera-song.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
trodverbUS /trɑːd/
inflected form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
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 There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
at the time that
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
in the company of; together with
From this reading We mounted the staircase, a broad, old-fashioned flight of steps, surmounted with heavy balustrades of black oak.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
an affirmative
From this reading There was a thick carpet running up them; but, lightly as we trod, the keen ear of the invalid detected a strange presence, and I heard his voice, muffled and rough with fever, calling out, "Yes, yes, I knew, I knew, I knew that she would come!"
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading There was a cool, artificial twilight in the chamber when we entered it; but through the bars of the outer blinds a gleam of sunshine shot across the room, and broke against the wall opposite the great, high-posted bed on which young Bosworth was lying.
