used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After all, the housemaid would have been merely surprised to find her in the drawing-room at that hour.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading After all, the housemaid would have been merely surprised to find her in the drawing-room at that hour.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading After all, the housemaid would have been merely surprised to find her in the drawing-room at that hour.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading After all, the housemaid would have been merely surprised to find her in the drawing-room at that hour.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and when she had closed the door of her room she stood looking at the clock.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and when she had closed the door of her room she stood looking at the clock.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was not yet seven, and Herat did not come to her room till half-past nine.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could not have guessed why she was there.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It was not yet seven, and Herat did not come to her room till half-past nine.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After all, the housemaid would have been merely surprised to find her in the drawing-room at that hour.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading After all, the housemaid would have been merely surprised to find her in the drawing-room at that hour.
footstepnounUS /ˈfʊtstep/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading She could not have guessed why she was there.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and when she had closed the door of her room she stood looking at the clock.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not yet seven, and Herat did not come to her room till half-past nine.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading After all, the housemaid would have been merely surprised to find her in the drawing-room at that hour.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading After all, the housemaid would have been merely surprised to find her in the drawing-room at that hour.
Heratnoun
a city in northwestern Afghanistan on the site of several ancient cities
From this reading It was not yet seven, and Herat did not come to her room till half-past nine.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading After all, the housemaid would have been merely surprised to find her in the drawing-room at that hour.
housemaidnoun
a female domestic
From this reading After all, the housemaid would have been merely surprised to find her in the drawing-room at that hour.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After all, the housemaid would have been merely surprised to find her in the drawing-room at that hour.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not yet seven, and Herat did not come to her room till half-past nine.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and when she had closed the door of her room she stood looking at the clock.
and nothing more
From this reading After all, the housemaid would have been merely surprised to find her in the drawing-room at that hour.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading It was not yet seven, and Herat did not come to her room till half-past nine.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could not have guessed why she was there.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and when she had closed the door of her room she stood looking at the clock.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and when she had closed the door of her room she stood looking at the clock.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and when she had closed the door of her room she stood looking at the clock.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading It was not yet seven, and Herat did not come to her room till half-past nine.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and when she had closed the door of her room she stood looking at the clock.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading After all, the housemaid would have been merely surprised to find her in the drawing-room at that hour.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After all, the housemaid would have been merely surprised to find her in the drawing-room at that hour.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She could not have guessed why she was there.
up to a particular time
From this reading It was not yet seven, and Herat did not come to her room till half-past nine.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and when she had closed the door of her room she stood looking at the clock.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She could not have guessed why she was there.
at the time that
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading She could not have guessed why she was there.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Hearing a footstep on the stairs, she drew herself behind the door, and when the sound passed downstairs she tried to reason with herself.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading After all, the housemaid would have been merely surprised to find her in the drawing-room at that hour.
but in spite of that
From this reading It was not yet seven, and Herat did not come to her room till half-past nine.
