AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading As I shrank back into the seat I heard the quick intake of Von Gerhard’s breath as he leaned forward to peer into the darkness.
beat's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
breathnounUS /breθ/
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading As I shrank back into the seat I heard the quick intake of Von Gerhard’s breath as he leaned forward to peer into the darkness.
cacklingverbUS /ˈkækəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “cackle” — talk or utter in a cackling manner
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
characternounUS /ˈkerɪktər/
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
curbingnounUS /ˈkɜːrbɪŋ/
an edge between a sidewalk and a roadway consisting of a line of curbstones (usually forming part of a gutter)
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading As I shrank back into the seat I heard the quick intake of Von Gerhard’s breath as he leaned forward to peer into the darkness.
drawledverbUS /drɔːld/
past form of “drawl” — lengthen and slow down or draw out
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
dreadnounUS /dred/
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading A sick dread came upon me.
familiaradjectiveUS /fəˈmɪljər/
well known or easily recognized
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
Gerhard's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I shrank back into the seat I heard the quick intake of Von Gerhard’s breath as he leaned forward to peer into the darkness.
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As I shrank back into the seat I heard the quick intake of Von Gerhard’s breath as he leaned forward to peer into the darkness.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading As I shrank back into the seat I heard the quick intake of Von Gerhard’s breath as he leaned forward to peer into the darkness.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I stifled a scream in my throat.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I stifled a scream in my throat.
intakenounUS /ˈɪnteɪk/
the process of taking food into the body through the mouth (as by eating)
From this reading As I shrank back into the seat I heard the quick intake of Von Gerhard’s breath as he leaned forward to peer into the darkness.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As I shrank back into the seat I heard the quick intake of Von Gerhard’s breath as he leaned forward to peer into the darkness.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
laughnounUS /læf/
the sound of laughing
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
leanedverbUS /liːnd/
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading As I shrank back into the seat I heard the quick intake of Von Gerhard’s breath as he leaned forward to peer into the darkness.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A sick dread came upon me.
meetverbUS /miːt/
come together
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I stifled a scream in my throat.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
ORME
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
peernounUS /pɪr/
a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
From this reading As I shrank back into the seat I heard the quick intake of Von Gerhard’s breath as he leaned forward to peer into the darkness.
PETERnounUS /ˈpiːtər/
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
policemannounUS /pəˈliːsmən/
a member of a police force
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
quickadjectiveUS /kwɪk/
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading As I shrank back into the seat I heard the quick intake of Von Gerhard’s breath as he leaned forward to peer into the darkness.
rosenounUS /roʊz/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
Sa-a-ay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading I stifled a scream in my throat.
seatnounUS /siːt/
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading As I shrank back into the seat I heard the quick intake of Von Gerhard’s breath as he leaned forward to peer into the darkness.
shadowsnounUS /ˈʃædoʊz/
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading As I shrank back into the seat I heard the quick intake of Von Gerhard’s breath as he leaned forward to peer into the darkness.
sickadjectiveUS /sɪk/
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading A sick dread came upon me.
spottedadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtɪd/
having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
stifledadjectiveUS /ˈstaɪfəld/
held in check with difficulty
From this reading I stifled a scream in my throat.
suspiciousadjectiveUS /səˈspɪʃəs/
openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
swungverbUS /swʌŋ/
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
thnounUS /ˈtiːˈeɪtʃ/
the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
throatnounUS /θroʊt/
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading I stifled a scream in my throat.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A sick dread came upon me.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
Von
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I shrank back into the seat I heard the quick intake of Von Gerhard’s breath as he leaned forward to peer into the darkness.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading PETER ORME A man’s figure rose from the shadows of the porch and came forward to meet us as we swung up to the curbing.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Sa-a-ay, girl,” drawled the man’s voice, with a familiar little cackling laugh in it, “sa-a-ay, girl, the policeman on th’ beat’s got me spotted for a suspicious character.
