used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Trace marched for the next barrier, but Slough darted over to investigate a narrower door, and thus discovered the first two Graken.
any person at all
From this reading Nor was there anyone in this room, which was plainly a sleeping chamber.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/
a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading Trace marched for the next barrier, but Slough darted over to investigate a narrower door, and thus discovered the first two Graken.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
brisklyadverbUS /ˈbrɪskli/
in a brisk manner
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading Nor was there anyone in this room, which was plainly a sleeping chamber.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Trace marched for the next barrier, but Slough darted over to investigate a narrower door, and thus discovered the first two Graken.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Trace marched for the next barrier, but Slough darted over to investigate a narrower door, and thus discovered the first two Graken.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
earth-made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
ElectricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading Electric eye, or the same principle, he thought, striding forward.
the organ of sight
From this reading Electric eye, or the same principle, he thought, striding forward.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Trace marched for the next barrier, but Slough darted over to investigate a narrower door, and thus discovered the first two Graken.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Electric eye, or the same principle, he thought, striding forward.
furnishingsnounUS /ˈfɜːrnɪʃɪŋz/
plural of “furnishing” — (usually plural) accessory wearing apparel
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
Graken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Trace marched for the next barrier, but Slough darted over to investigate a narrower door, and thus discovered the first two Graken.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
headedadjectiveUS /ˈhedəd/
having a heading or course in a certain direction
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Nor was there anyone in this room, which was plainly a sleeping chamber.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
investigateverbUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪt/
investigate scientifically
From this reading Trace marched for the next barrier, but Slough darted over to investigate a narrower door, and thus discovered the first two Graken.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
knobnounUS /nɑːb/
a circular rounded projection or protuberance
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
past form of “march” — march in a procession
From this reading Trace marched for the next barrier, but Slough darted over to investigate a narrower door, and thus discovered the first two Graken.
narroweradjectiveUS /ˈneroʊər/
comparative of “narrow” — not wide
From this reading Trace marched for the next barrier, but Slough darted over to investigate a narrower door, and thus discovered the first two Graken.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Trace marched for the next barrier, but Slough darted over to investigate a narrower door, and thus discovered the first two Graken.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor was there anyone in this room, which was plainly a sleeping chamber.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Electric eye, or the same principle, he thought, striding forward.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Trace marched for the next barrier, but Slough darted over to investigate a narrower door, and thus discovered the first two Graken.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Nor was there anyone in this room, which was plainly a sleeping chamber.
principlenounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəl/
a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
From this reading Electric eye, or the same principle, he thought, striding forward.
rectanglenounUS /ˈrektæŋɡəl/
a parallelogram with four right angles
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
right-handadjectiveUS /raɪtˈhænd/
located on or directed toward the right
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Nor was there anyone in this room, which was plainly a sleeping chamber.
Roscoe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Electric eye, or the same principle, he thought, striding forward.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
the state of being asleep
From this reading Nor was there anyone in this room, which was plainly a sleeping chamber.
slidverbUS /slɪd/
inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
SloughnounUS /slʌf/
necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass
From this reading Trace marched for the next barrier, but Slough darted over to investigate a narrower door, and thus discovered the first two Graken.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
stridingverbUS /ˈstraɪdɪŋ/
-ing form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading Electric eye, or the same principle, he thought, striding forward.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Nor was there anyone in this room, which was plainly a sleeping chamber.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Nor was there anyone in this room, which was plainly a sleeping chamber.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Electric eye, or the same principle, he thought, striding forward.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Trace marched for the next barrier, but Slough darted over to investigate a narrower door, and thus discovered the first two Graken.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Trace marched for the next barrier, but Slough darted over to investigate a narrower door, and thus discovered the first two Graken.
having come into contact
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
a just detectable amount
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Trace marched for the next barrier, but Slough darted over to investigate a narrower door, and thus discovered the first two Graken.
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 It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Nor was there anyone in this room, which was plainly a sleeping chamber.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without a glance at the curious furnishings of the craft, Trace Roscoe headed for the door on the right-hand side.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was a tall rectangle, like an earth-made door, but without knob; as Trace came within a foot of it, it slid into the wall so briskly that he would not have touched it had he been coming at a dead run.
