adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
abruptlyadverbUS /əˈbrʌptli/
quickly and without warning
From this reading He came leaping up two steps at a time, and turning the angle abruptly, surprised me before I was clear of the upper flight.
accordinglyadverbUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋli/
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
advantagenounUS /ædˈvæntɪdʒ/
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading The staircase was dark, however, and being familiar with it, he had the advantage over me.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
anglenounUS /ˈæŋɡəl/
the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading He came leaping up two steps at a time, and turning the angle abruptly, surprised me before I was clear of the upper flight.
apartmentnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənt/
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
ascendverbUS /əˈsend/
travel up
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
beginverbUS /bɪˈɡɪn/
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The staircase was dark, however, and being familiar with it, he had the advantage over me.
Bruhl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He came leaping up two steps at a time, and turning the angle abruptly, surprised me before I was clear of the upper flight.
clearverbUS /klɪr/
rid of obstructions
From this reading He came leaping up two steps at a time, and turning the angle abruptly, surprised me before I was clear of the upper flight.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The staircase was dark, however, and being familiar with it, he had the advantage over me.
denounUS /diː/
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
desiredadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪərd/
wanted intensely
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
doubtnounUS /daʊt/
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
dozennounUS /ˈdʌzən/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
embroilverbUS /emˈbrɔɪl/
force into some kind of situation, condition, or course of action
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
enterverbUS /ˈentər/
to come or go into
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
familiaradjectiveUS /fəˈmɪljər/
well known or easily recognized
From this reading The staircase was dark, however, and being familiar with it, he had the advantage over me.
flightnounUS /flaɪt/
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading He came leaping up two steps at a time, and turning the angle abruptly, surprised me before I was clear of the upper flight.
footnounUS /fʊt/
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/
destroyed or killed
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The staircase was dark, however, and being familiar with it, he had the advantage over me.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
hopingverbUS /ˈhoʊpɪŋ/
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The staircase was dark, however, and being familiar with it, he had the advantage over me.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
leapingnounUS /ˈliːpɪŋ/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading He came leaping up two steps at a time, and turning the angle abruptly, surprised me before I was clear of the upper flight.
leaveverbUS /liːv/
go away from a place
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
leftnounUS /left/
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 It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
lowerverbUS /ˈloʊər/
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
MnounUS /em/
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
madame's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
meetverbUS /miːt/
come together
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
nearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The staircase was dark, however, and being familiar with it, he had the advantage over me.
pacenounUS /peɪs/
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
quickenedverbUS /ˈkwɪkənd/
past form of “quicken” — move faster
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
realisedadjectiveUS /ˈriːəlaɪzd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
soonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
stairsnounUS /sterz/
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
stepsnounUS /steps/
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
strangernounUS /ˈstreɪndʒər/
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
streetnounUS /striːt/
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
surprisedadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzd/
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading He came leaping up two steps at a time, and turning the angle abruptly, surprised me before I was clear of the upper flight.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He came leaping up two steps at a time, and turning the angle abruptly, surprised me before I was clear of the upper flight.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I had not gone down half a dozen steps before I heard a man enter the staircase from the street, and begin to ascend.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It struck me at once that this might be M. de Bruhl; and I realised that I had not left madame’s apartment a moment too soon.
turningnounUS /ˈtɜːrnɪŋ/
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading He came leaping up two steps at a time, and turning the angle abruptly, surprised me before I was clear of the upper flight.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He came leaping up two steps at a time, and turning the angle abruptly, surprised me before I was clear of the upper flight.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He came leaping up two steps at a time, and turning the angle abruptly, surprised me before I was clear of the upper flight.
upperadjectiveUS /ˈʌpər/
the topmost one of two
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
visitingnounUS /ˈvɪzɪtɪŋ/
the activity of making visits
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The last thing I desired, having so much on my hands, was to embroil myself with a stranger, and accordingly I quickened my pace, hoping to meet him so near the foot of the stairs as to leave him in doubt whether I had been visiting the upper or lower part of the house.
