Chapter IX

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading That door could not be opened from the outside unless a person knew exactly how to do it.

anew

From this reading She went through it quickly, reached the door in the alley wall, listened, opened it, slipped into the alley, and slammed the door shut again.

a narrow street with walls on both sides

From this reading She went through it quickly, reached the door in the alley wall, listened, opened it, slipped into the alley, and slammed the door shut again.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

past form of “ascend” — travel up

From this reading Mamie Blanchard hurried through the alley to the street, engaged a taxicab, and drove to a certain hotel, where she ascended in the elevator and went directly to a suite.

the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage

From this reading When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the tunnel.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading That door could not be opened from the outside unless a person knew exactly how to do it.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading Mamie Blanchard hurried through the alley to the street, engaged a taxicab, and drove to a certain hotel, where she ascended in the elevator and went directly to a suite.

seemingly without interruption

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

a small house with a single story

From this reading When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the tunnel.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading That door could not be opened from the outside unless a person knew exactly how to do it.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

without deviation

From this reading Mamie Blanchard hurried through the alley to the street, engaged a taxicab, and drove to a certain hotel, where she ascended in the elevator and went directly to a suite.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading That door could not be opened from the outside unless a person knew exactly how to do it.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the tunnel.

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading Mamie Blanchard hurried through the alley to the street, engaged a taxicab, and drove to a certain hotel, where she ascended in the elevator and went directly to a suite.

lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building

From this reading Mamie Blanchard hurried through the alley to the street, engaged a taxicab, and drove to a certain hotel, where she ascended in the elevator and went directly to a suite.

having ones attention or mind or energy engaged

From this reading Mamie Blanchard hurried through the alley to the street, engaged a taxicab, and drove to a certain hotel, where she ascended in the elevator and went directly to a suite.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the tunnel.

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading That door could not be opened from the outside unless a person knew exactly how to do it.

plural of “force” — a powerful effect or influence

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading That door could not be opened from the outside unless a person knew exactly how to do it.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading Mamie Blanchard hurried through the alley to the street, engaged a taxicab, and drove to a certain hotel, where she ascended in the elevator and went directly to a suite.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That door could not be opened from the outside unless a person knew exactly how to do it.

moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste

From this reading When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the tunnel.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading She went through it quickly, reached the door in the alley wall, listened, opened it, slipped into the alley, and slammed the door shut again.

relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space

From this reading When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the tunnel.

having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the tunnel.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She went through it quickly, reached the door in the alley wall, listened, opened it, slipped into the alley, and slammed the door shut again.

a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the tunnel.

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 That door could not be opened from the outside unless a person knew exactly how to do it.

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

the literary culture

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading She went through it quickly, reached the door in the alley wall, listened, opened it, slipped into the alley, and slammed the door shut again.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the tunnel.

past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock

From this reading When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the tunnel.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading That door could not be opened from the outside unless a person knew exactly how to do it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the tunnel.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading She went through it quickly, reached the door in the alley wall, listened, opened it, slipped into the alley, and slammed the door shut again.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading That door could not be opened from the outside unless a person knew exactly how to do it.

a human being

From this reading That door could not be opened from the outside unless a person knew exactly how to do it.

with speed

From this reading She went through it quickly, reached the door in the alley wall, listened, opened it, slipped into the alley, and slammed the door shut again.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading She went through it quickly, reached the door in the alley wall, listened, opened it, slipped into the alley, and slammed the door shut again.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the tunnel.

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading She went through it quickly, reached the door in the alley wall, listened, opened it, slipped into the alley, and slammed the door shut again.

inflected form of “slam” — close violently

From this reading She went through it quickly, reached the door in the alley wall, listened, opened it, slipped into the alley, and slammed the door shut again.

inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily

From this reading She went through it quickly, reached the door in the alley wall, listened, opened it, slipped into the alley, and slammed the door shut again.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Mamie Blanchard hurried through the alley to the street, engaged a taxicab, and drove to a certain hotel, where she ascended in the elevator and went directly to a suite.

a musical composition of several movements only loosely connected

From this reading Mamie Blanchard hurried through the alley to the street, engaged a taxicab, and drove to a certain hotel, where she ascended in the elevator and went directly to a suite.

a car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money

From this reading Mamie Blanchard hurried through the alley to the street, engaged a taxicab, and drove to a certain hotel, where she ascended in the elevator and went directly to a suite.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the tunnel.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading That door could not be opened from the outside unless a person knew exactly how to do it.

move through by or as by digging

From this reading When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the tunnel.

except if; if not

From this reading That door could not be opened from the outside unless a person knew exactly how to do it.

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 She went through it quickly, reached the door in the alley wall, listened, opened it, slipped into the alley, and slammed the door shut again.

past form of “watch” — look attentively

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading She went through it quickly, reached the door in the alley wall, listened, opened it, slipped into the alley, and slammed the door shut again.

at the time that

From this reading When she entered the little cottage, she locked the door on the inside, hurried through the kitchen and into the basement, and entered the tunnel.

in or at the place that

From this reading Mamie Blanchard hurried through the alley to the street, engaged a taxicab, and drove to a certain hotel, where she ascended in the elevator and went directly to a suite.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading ORDERS AND LETTERS The forces of law and order would have been interested, that day, had they watched Mamie Blanchard continually.