adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
arrangedadjectiveUS /ərˈeɪndʒd/
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading Clearly, he thought, it was not thus arranged without some very special purpose.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
BaronnounUS /ˈbærən/
a nobleman (in various countries) of varying rank
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
bednounUS /bed/
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
ClearlyadverbUS /ˈklɪrli/
without doubt or question
From this reading Clearly, he thought, it was not thus arranged without some very special purpose.
climbverbUS /klaɪm/
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
confirmedadjectiveUS /kənˈfɜːrmd/
of persons; not subject to change
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
creakverbUS /kriːk/
make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
departurenounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/
the act of departing
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
Dugald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
Dugald's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
effortnounUS /ˈefərt/
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
footstepnounUS /ˈfʊtstep/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
forthadverbUS /fɔːrθ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
friendnounUS /frend/
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
gentlyadverbUS /ˈdʒentli/
in a gradual manner
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
harness-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
keynounUS /kiː/
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
lednounUS /led/
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
listeningnounUS /ˈlɪsənɪŋ/
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
lockverbUS /lɑːk/
fasten with a lock
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
meantverbUS /ment/
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
nosenounUS /noʊz/
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Clearly, he thought, it was not thus arranged without some very special purpose.
objectnounUS /ˈɑːbdʒekt/
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
observedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvd/
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
oiledadjectiveUS /ɔɪld/
treated with oil
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
openingnounUS /ˈoʊpənɪŋ/
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
opinionnounUS /əˈpɪnjən/
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
prisonnounUS /ˈprɪzən/
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
proposedverbUS /prəˈpoʊzd/
past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
purposenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəs/
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Clearly, he thought, it was not thus arranged without some very special purpose.
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
sensenounUS /sens/
a general conscious awareness
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
specialadjectiveUS /ˈspeʃəl/
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Clearly, he thought, it was not thus arranged without some very special purpose.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
stairsnounUS /sterz/
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
stubbornadjectiveUS /ˈstʌbərn/
tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
suggestingverbUS /səˈdʒestɪŋ/
-ing form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
supposingverbUS /səˈpoʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “suppose” — express a supposition
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Clearly, he thought, it was not thus arranged without some very special purpose.
thusadverbUS /ðʌs/
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Clearly, he thought, it was not thus arranged without some very special purpose.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
tweakverbUS /twiːk/
pinch or squeeze sharply
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading Clearly, he thought, it was not thus arranged without some very special purpose.
visitverbUS /ˈvɪzɪt/
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
wallnounUS /wɔːl/
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 His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Clearly, he thought, it was not thus arranged without some very special purpose.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading His bed lay along the wall, with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort (supposing that were the object of their visit).
woodenadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdən/
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading For a long time the Baron lay wide awake, every sense alert, listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness-room to his prison.
wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/
the words that are spoken
From this reading What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant, save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door?
