used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A cool, disdainful laugh rippled low through the room—a woman’s laugh.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The chill that had clutched at his heart, the fear of discovery, was gone almost as quickly as it had come.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
archwaynounUS /ˈɑːrtʃweɪ/
a passageway under a curved masonry construction
From this reading His flashlight, jerked upward, played full upon the archway.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The chill that had clutched at his heart, the fear of discovery, was gone almost as quickly as it had come.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The chill that had clutched at his heart, the fear of discovery, was gone almost as quickly as it had come.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading Billy Kane did not move.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading The chill that had clutched at his heart, the fear of discovery, was gone almost as quickly as it had come.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading The chill that had clutched at his heart, the fear of discovery, was gone almost as quickly as it had come.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The chill that had clutched at his heart, the fear of discovery, was gone almost as quickly as it had come.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading A cool, disdainful laugh rippled low through the room—a woman’s laugh.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Billy Kane did not move.
the act of discovering something
From this reading The chill that had clutched at his heart, the fear of discovery, was gone almost as quickly as it had come.
disdainfuladjectiveUS /dɪsˈdeɪnfəl/
expressing extreme contempt
From this reading A cool, disdainful laugh rippled low through the room—a woman’s laugh.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading The chill that had clutched at his heart, the fear of discovery, was gone almost as quickly as it had come.
flashlightnounUS /ˈflæʃlaɪt/
a small portable battery-powered electric lamp
From this reading His flashlight, jerked upward, played full upon the archway.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading His flashlight, jerked upward, played full upon the archway.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The chill that had clutched at his heart, the fear of discovery, was gone almost as quickly as it had come.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The chill that had clutched at his heart, the fear of discovery, was gone almost as quickly as it had come.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The chill that had clutched at his heart, the fear of discovery, was gone almost as quickly as it had come.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
jerkedverbUS /dʒɜːrkt/
past form of “jerk” — pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading His flashlight, jerked upward, played full upon the archway.
Kane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billy Kane did not move.
the sound of laughing
From this reading A cool, disdainful laugh rippled low through the room—a woman’s laugh.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A cool, disdainful laugh rippled low through the room—a woman’s laugh.
mantelnounUS /ˈmæntəl/
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Billy Kane did not move.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Billy Kane did not move.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading His flashlight, jerked upward, played full upon the archway.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
with speed
From this reading The chill that had clutched at his heart, the fear of discovery, was gone almost as quickly as it had come.
rippledadjectiveUS /ˈrɪpəld/
uneven by virtue of having wrinkles or waves
From this reading A cool, disdainful laugh rippled low through the room—a woman’s laugh.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A cool, disdainful laugh rippled low through the room—a woman’s laugh.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The chill that had clutched at his heart, the fear of discovery, was gone almost as quickly as it had come.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A cool, disdainful laugh rippled low through the room—a woman’s laugh.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading His flashlight, jerked upward, played full upon the archway.
directed up
From this reading His flashlight, jerked upward, played full upon the archway.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The chill that had clutched at his heart, the fear of discovery, was gone almost as quickly as it had come.
whirledverbUS /wɜːrld/
past form of “whirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading He took the envelope from the safe, closed the door, and locked it—and whirled suddenly around from his position in front of the mantel.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A cool, disdainful laugh rippled low through the room—a woman’s laugh.
