used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After his recent experiences he couldn’t be blamed for hesitating a moment.
in actual fact
From this reading It seemed to Bob that he pondered those questions for several minutes; actually it was less than five seconds.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After his recent experiences he couldn’t be blamed for hesitating a moment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He reached for the light switch at the left of the doorway and pushed the button.
awaitverbUS /əˈweɪt/
look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading After his recent experiences he couldn’t be blamed for hesitating a moment.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading Bob paused on the threshold of the long office, staring into the blackness of the room.
blamedadjectiveUS /bleɪmd/
expletives used informally as intensifiers
From this reading After his recent experiences he couldn’t be blamed for hesitating a moment.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading Bob paused on the threshold of the long office, staring into the blackness of the room.
buttonnounUS /ˈbʌtən/
a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes
From this reading He reached for the light switch at the left of the doorway and pushed the button.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After his recent experiences he couldn’t be blamed for hesitating a moment.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading He reached for the light switch at the left of the doorway and pushed the button.
experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/
plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities
From this reading After his recent experiences he couldn’t be blamed for hesitating a moment.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading It seemed to Bob that he pondered those questions for several minutes; actually it was less than five seconds.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading After his recent experiences he couldn’t be blamed for hesitating a moment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After his recent experiences he couldn’t be blamed for hesitating a moment.
hesitatingadjectiveUS /ˈhezəteɪtɪŋ/
lacking decisiveness of character; unable to act or decide quickly or firmly
From this reading After his recent experiences he couldn’t be blamed for hesitating a moment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After his recent experiences he couldn’t be blamed for hesitating a moment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Bob paused on the threshold of the long office, staring into the blackness of the room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to Bob that he pondered those questions for several minutes; actually it was less than five seconds.
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 He reached for the light switch at the left of the doorway and pushed the button.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading It seemed to Bob that he pondered those questions for several minutes; actually it was less than five seconds.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He reached for the light switch at the left of the doorway and pushed the button.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Bob paused on the threshold of the long office, staring into the blackness of the room.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading It seemed to Bob that he pondered those questions for several minutes; actually it was less than five seconds.
a particular point in time
From this reading After his recent experiences he couldn’t be blamed for hesitating a moment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bob paused on the threshold of the long office, staring into the blackness of the room.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Bob paused on the threshold of the long office, staring into the blackness of the room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Bob paused on the threshold of the long office, staring into the blackness of the room.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Bob paused on the threshold of the long office, staring into the blackness of the room.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
ponderedverbUS /ˈpɑːndərd/
past form of “ponder” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading It seemed to Bob that he pondered those questions for several minutes; actually it was less than five seconds.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading He reached for the light switch at the left of the doorway and pushed the button.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading It seemed to Bob that he pondered those questions for several minutes; actually it was less than five seconds.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading He reached for the light switch at the left of the doorway and pushed the button.
recentadjectiveUS /ˈriːsənt/
new
From this reading After his recent experiences he couldn’t be blamed for hesitating a moment.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Bob paused on the threshold of the long office, staring into the blackness of the room.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading It seemed to Bob that he pondered those questions for several minutes; actually it was less than five seconds.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to Bob that he pondered those questions for several minutes; actually it was less than five seconds.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading It seemed to Bob that he pondered those questions for several minutes; actually it was less than five seconds.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
snapverbUS /snæp/
utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading Bob paused on the threshold of the long office, staring into the blackness of the room.
switchverbUS /swɪtʃ/
change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading He reached for the light switch at the left of the doorway and pushed the button.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It seemed to Bob that he pondered those questions for several minutes; actually it was less than five seconds.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed to Bob that he pondered those questions for several minutes; actually it was less than five seconds.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bob paused on the threshold of the long office, staring into the blackness of the room.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It seemed to Bob that he pondered those questions for several minutes; actually it was less than five seconds.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading Bob paused on the threshold of the long office, staring into the blackness of the room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to Bob that he pondered those questions for several minutes; actually it was less than five seconds.
uncle'snounUS /ˈʌŋkəlz/
possessive form of “uncle” — the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It seemed to Bob that he pondered those questions for several minutes; actually it was less than five seconds.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Should he close the door, back into the hall and await his uncle’s arrival or should he snap on the lights and see what had taken place in the room?
