used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
from appearances alone
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
awaitedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
cabnounUS /kæb/
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
CairnnounUS /kern/
a mound of stones piled up as a memorial or to mark a boundary or path
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
placed crosswise
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
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 The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading He stood and waited, until at last the cab drew up within a few yards of him.
drivernounUS /ˈdraɪvər/
the operator of a motor vehicle
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
Duquesne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Myra Duquesne got out.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He stood and waited, until at last the cab drew up within a few yards of him.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
a quick look
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Myra Duquesne got out.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Perhaps his imagination was playing him tricks.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps his imagination was playing him tricks.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading Perhaps his imagination was playing him tricks.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
immediately past
From this reading He stood and waited, until at last the cab drew up within a few yards of him.
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
a particular point in time
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
Myra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Myra Duquesne got out.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
occupantnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənt/
someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps his imagination was playing him tricks.
Piccadilly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading Perhaps his imagination was playing him tricks.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
RUSTLINGnounUS /ˈrʌslɪŋ/
the stealing of cattle
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
slowedverbUS /sloʊd/
past form of “slow” — lose velocity; move more slowly
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
suitableadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtəbəl/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
taxi-cab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
in the direction of
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
tricksnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading Perhaps his imagination was playing him tricks.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He stood and waited, until at last the cab drew up within a few yards of him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He stood and waited, until at last the cab drew up within a few yards of him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
precisely as stated
From this reading The occupant of the cab was invisible now, but a moment before Cairn had had a glimpse of her as she glanced out, apparently towards the very doorway in which he stood.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading He stood and waited, until at last the cab drew up within a few yards of him.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
at the time that
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading THE RUSTLING SHADOWS Cairn stepped out of the lift, crossed the hall, and was about to walk out on to Piccadilly, when he stopped, staring hard at a taxi-cab which had slowed down upon the opposite side whilst the driver awaited a suitable opportunity to pull across.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading He stood and waited, until at last the cab drew up within a few yards of him.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading He stood and waited, until at last the cab drew up within a few yards of him.
