used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading She thought there was someone in the room, but she was not afraid.
Alexander'snounUS /ˌæləɡˈzændərz/
possessive form of “alexander” — European herb somewhat resembling celery widely naturalized in Britain coastal regions and often cultivated as a potherb
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But that noise had ceased and the room was entirely dark when Theresa woke and sat up.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
make calm or still
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading But that noise had ceased and the room was entirely dark when Theresa woke and sat up.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
clothing in general
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
coalsnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading But that noise had ceased and the room was entirely dark when Theresa woke and sat up.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading But that noise had ceased and the room was entirely dark when Theresa woke and sat up.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
fire'snounUS /ˈfaɪərz/
possessive form of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
firelightnoun
the light of a fire (especially in a fireplace)
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
flaccidadjectiveUS /ˈflæksɪd/
drooping without elasticity; wanting in stiffness
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
brought together in one place
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But that noise had ceased and the room was entirely dark when Theresa woke and sat up.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
leaptverbUS /lept/
inflected form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
lickedadjectiveUS /lɪkt/
having been got the better of
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading But that noise had ceased and the room was entirely dark when Theresa woke and sat up.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She thought there was someone in the room, but she was not afraid.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
on one occasion
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
palpableadjectiveUS /ˈpælpəbəl/
capable of being perceived; especially capable of being handled or touched or felt
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading But that noise had ceased and the room was entirely dark when Theresa woke and sat up.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading But that noise had ceased and the room was entirely dark when Theresa woke and sat up.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
sheetsnounUS /ʃiːts/
plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
a person, without saying who
From this reading She thought there was someone in the room, but she was not afraid.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
confined on all sides
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But that noise had ceased and the room was entirely dark when Theresa woke and sat up.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She thought there was someone in the room, but she was not afraid.
TheresanounUS /tərˈiːsə/
Indian nun and missionary in the Roman Catholic Church (born of Albanian parents in what is now Macedonia); dedicated to helping the poor in India (1910-1997)
From this reading But that noise had ceased and the room was entirely dark when Theresa woke and sat up.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She thought there was someone in the room, but she was not afraid.
tickedverbUS /tɪkt/
past form of “tick” — make a clicking or ticking sound
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
tranquiladjectiveUS /ˈtræŋkwəl/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
tumbledverbUS /ˈtʌmbəld/
past form of “tumble” — fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
undressedadjectiveUS /ənˈdrest/
of lumber or stone or hides; not finished or dressed
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
untroubledadjectiveUS /ənˈtrʌbəld/
not beset by troubles or disturbance or distress
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But that noise had ceased and the room was entirely dark when Theresa woke and sat up.
plural of “wall” — 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 For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But that noise had ceased and the room was entirely dark when Theresa woke and sat up.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
at the time that
From this reading An immense and palpable calm surrounded her as she undressed, and when she stretched herself between the sheets she fell at once into an untroubled sleep.
in or at the place that
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then the fire's heart called back the flames, and they were gathered into a red and tranquil glow which faded, while the dropping coals slowly ticked out their life.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For a little while the firelight licked the walls, danced on the chair where her clothes were tumbled and leapt to the ceiling to look down on her in the bed, lying pale and flaccid with her cheek on Alexander's letter.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading But that noise had ceased and the room was entirely dark when Theresa woke and sat up.
