used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "He passed along a crooked bridge.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading "He passed along a crooked bridge.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
completely unclothed
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They opened before him and he entered, the policeman at his heels.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading At last he stood beneath the pale, sputtering light of the hospital porch, striking feverishly at the great doors.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading "He passed along a crooked bridge.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
crookedadjectiveUS /ˈkrʊkəd/
having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned
From this reading "He passed along a crooked bridge.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading At last he stood beneath the pale, sputtering light of the hospital porch, striking feverishly at the great doors.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading They opened before him and he entered, the policeman at his heels.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
feverishlyadverbUS /ˈfevərɪʃli/
in a feverish manner
From this reading At last he stood beneath the pale, sputtering light of the hospital porch, striking feverishly at the great doors.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading At last he stood beneath the pale, sputtering light of the hospital porch, striking feverishly at the great doors.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "He passed along a crooked bridge.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading They opened before him and he entered, the policeman at his heels.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They opened before him and he entered, the policeman at his heels.
a health facility where patients receive treatment
From this reading At last he stood beneath the pale, sputtering light of the hospital porch, striking feverishly at the great doors.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
immediately past
From this reading At last he stood beneath the pale, sputtering light of the hospital porch, striking feverishly at the great doors.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading At last he stood beneath the pale, sputtering light of the hospital porch, striking feverishly at the great doors.
MetropolitanadjectiveUS /ˌmetrəˈpɑːlətən/
relating to or characteristic of a metropolis
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
a particular point in time
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
mutteringnounUS /ˈmʌtərɪŋ/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading They opened before him and he entered, the policeman at his heels.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading At last he stood beneath the pale, sputtering light of the hospital porch, striking feverishly at the great doors.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading "He passed along a crooked bridge.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
a person who requires medical care
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
patternounUS /ˈpætər/
plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson)
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
policemannounUS /pəˈliːsmən/
a member of a police force
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading At last he stood beneath the pale, sputtering light of the hospital porch, striking feverishly at the great doors.
poundingnounUS /ˈpaʊndɪŋ/
repeated heavy blows
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
done under pressure
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
sputteringnounUS /ˈspʌtərɪŋ/
the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively
From this reading At last he stood beneath the pale, sputtering light of the hospital porch, striking feverishly at the great doors.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading At last he stood beneath the pale, sputtering light of the hospital porch, striking feverishly at the great doors.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading At last he stood beneath the pale, sputtering light of the hospital porch, striking feverishly at the great doors.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The policeman hesitated a moment, then followed; and behind the patter of the bare feet the heavy boots echoed, pounding in patient pursuit.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They opened before him and he entered, the policeman at his heels.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At the end a big Metropolitan policeman stepped to him with a question, but he rushed past with a vague muttering.
