used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
basementnounUS /ˈbeɪsmənt/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
boundedadjectiveUS /ˈbaʊndəd/
having the limits or boundaries established
From this reading The seaman bounded down the steps.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This was followed by a more ominous silence.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading The sight that met his gaze caused him to stop short.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
divisionnounUS /dɪˈvɪʒən/
an army unit large enough to sustain combat
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The seaman bounded down the steps.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading This was followed by a more ominous silence.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
a long fixed look
From this reading The sight that met his gaze caused him to stop short.
growlingnounUS /ˈɡroʊlɪŋ/
a gruff or angry utterance (suggestive of the growling of an animal)
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
gymnasiumnounUS /dʒɪmˈneɪziəm/
a school for students intermediate between elementary school and college; usually grades 9 to 12
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The sight that met his gaze caused him to stop short.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The sight that met his gaze caused him to stop short.
improvisedadjectiveUS /ˈɪmprəvaɪzd/
done or made using whatever is available
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
the force of workers available
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading The sight that met his gaze caused him to stop short.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading This was followed by a more ominous silence.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
ominousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːmənəs/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
Pott
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
seamannounUS /ˈsiːmən/
a man who serves as a sailor
From this reading The seaman bounded down the steps.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The sight that met his gaze caused him to stop short.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading The sight that met his gaze caused him to stop short.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading This was followed by a more ominous silence.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The seaman bounded down the steps.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading The sight that met his gaze caused him to stop short.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sight that met his gaze caused him to stop short.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was followed by a more ominous silence.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sight that met his gaze caused him to stop short.
tugverbUS /tʌɡ/
pull hard
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
undertonenounUS /ˈʌndərtoʊn/
a quiet or hushed tone of voice
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was followed by a more ominous silence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On each side of the low room men and boys were drawn up in lines, and the division was as clean cut as though chosen for a tug of war.
Willow-Tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
in the company of; together with
From this reading An ominous murmur of voices, with a deep growling undertone, floated up from the improvised gymnasium in the basement as Captain Pott entered the swinging doors of Willow-Tree Inn.
