aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
discreetlyadverbUS /dɪˈskriːtli/
with discretion; prudently and with wise self-restraint
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
eavesdroppers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
divisible by two
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Shall I show him in?"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Where is he?" queried Madame.
and nothing more
From this reading "Just outside.
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 "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
Leroux
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
a room where books are kept
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading "Where is he?" queried Madame.
Madame's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
Matthieu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
not any; not one
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
on one occasion
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading "Just outside.
the act of departing politely
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
peepedverbUS /piːpt/
past form of “peep” — look furtively
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
queriedverbUS /ˈkwɪrid/
inflected form of “query” — pose a question
From this reading "Where is he?" queried Madame.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/
a result
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading Shall I show him in?"
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Shall I show him in?"
with low volume
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading THE PARTING OF THE WAYS I Ten minutes later Matthieu once more knocked discreetly at the door of the library, and in response to Madame's call, he opened the door very softly and peeped in.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Leroux has returned," he said, instinctively dropping his voice, even though he knew quite well that no eavesdroppers could be about.
in or at the place that
From this reading "Where is he?" queried Madame.
