used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AND EXTORTS A PROMISE The heat was awful.
AboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
acridadjectiveUS /ˈæk.rɪd/
Having an unpleasantly bitter or pungent taste or smell.
From this reading His eyes were smarting with the acrid smoke; he could scarcely breathe.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading At the turn in the staircase Dick faltered and leaned against the wall.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AND EXTORTS A PROMISE The heat was awful.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the turn in the staircase Dick faltered and leaned against the wall.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading AND EXTORTS A PROMISE The heat was awful.
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
BelowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
From this reading His eyes were smarting with the acrid smoke; he could scarcely breathe.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading His eyes were smarting with the acrid smoke; he could scarcely breathe.
cracklingnounUS /ˈkræklɪŋ/
the residue that remains after animal fat has been rendered
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
crimsonadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmzən/
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
someone who is a detective
From this reading At the turn in the staircase Dick faltered and leaned against the wall.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
eddying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
EXTORTSverbUS /ekˈstɔːrts/
third-person singular of “extort” — obtain through intimidation
From this reading AND EXTORTS A PROMISE The heat was awful.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes were smarting with the acrid smoke; he could scarcely breathe.
falteredverbUS /ˈfɑːltərd/
past form of “falter” — be unsure or weak
From this reading At the turn in the staircase Dick faltered and leaned against the wall.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
first-floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
fouladjectiveUS /faʊl/
highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
fumesnounUS /fjuːmz/
gases ejected from an engine as waste products
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His eyes were smarting with the acrid smoke; he could scarcely breathe.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading AND EXTORTS A PROMISE The heat was awful.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His eyes were smarting with the acrid smoke; he could scarcely breathe.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the turn in the staircase Dick faltered and leaned against the wall.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading At the turn in the staircase Dick faltered and leaned against the wall.
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 Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
outlinedadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnd/
showing clearly the outline or profile or boundary
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
patchesnounUS /ˈpætʃəz/
plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading AND EXTORTS A PROMISE The heat was awful.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
uttered with a trill
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
savagelyadverbUS /ˈsævɪdʒli/
in a vicious manner
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
only a very short time before
From this reading His eyes were smarting with the acrid smoke; he could scarcely breathe.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
smartingnounUS /ˈsmɑːrtɪŋ/
a kind of pain such as that caused by a wound or a burn or a sore
From this reading His eyes were smarting with the acrid smoke; he could scarcely breathe.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading His eyes were smarting with the acrid smoke; he could scarcely breathe.
smolderingadjectiveUS /ˈsmoʊldərɪŋ/
showing scarcely suppressed anger
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading At the turn in the staircase Dick faltered and leaned against the wall.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
in a strange manner
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AND EXTORTS A PROMISE The heat was awful.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
very small
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Below him the door of the first-floor room to the left was crackling savagely, the flames showing strangely red through the eddying, rolling banks of smoke.
tonguesnounUS /tʌŋz/
plural of “tongue” — a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading At the turn in the staircase Dick faltered and leaned against the wall.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
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 At the turn in the staircase Dick faltered and leaned against the wall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AND EXTORTS A PROMISE The heat was awful.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His eyes were smarting with the acrid smoke; he could scarcely breathe.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His eyes were smarting with the acrid smoke; he could scarcely breathe.
woodworknounUS /ˈwʊdwɜːrk/
work made of wood; especially moldings or stairways or furniture
From this reading Above him the stairs were outlined with tiny tongues of fire or crimson patches of smoldering woodwork, and beyond all was dark, foul with the fumes which had poured up from the floor below.
