used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At a rear door leading off the second landing she knocked softly, but with insistence.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading It opened to a slight crack, then immediately swung back full span.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
blocksnounUS /blɑːks/
plural of “block” — a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading On each landing she paused more for tears than for breath.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At a rear door leading off the second landing she knocked softly, but with insistence.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading It opened to a slight crack, then immediately swung back full span.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading At a rear door leading off the second landing she knocked softly, but with insistence.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading On each landing she paused more for tears than for breath.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
flightsnounUS /flaɪts/
plural of “flight” — a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On each landing she paused more for tears than for breath.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading It opened to a slight crack, then immediately swung back full span.
Gott
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "_Gott in Himmel_, Mrs. Meyerburg!
hesitancynounUS /ˈhezɪtənsi/
a feeling of diffidence and indecision about doing something
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
Himmel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "_Gott in Himmel_, Mrs. Meyerburg!
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading It opened to a slight crack, then immediately swung back full span.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
insistencenounUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstəns/
continual and persistent demands
From this reading At a rear door leading off the second landing she knocked softly, but with insistence.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It opened to a slight crack, then immediately swung back full span.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading At a rear door leading off the second landing she knocked softly, but with insistence.
landingnounUS /ˈlændɪŋ/
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading On each landing she paused more for tears than for breath.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading At a rear door leading off the second landing she knocked softly, but with insistence.
Meyerburg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "_Gott in Himmel_, Mrs. Meyerburg!
MidwayadjectiveUS /ˈmɪdweɪ/
equally distant from the extremes
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading On each landing she paused more for tears than for breath.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "_Gott in Himmel_, Mrs. Meyerburg!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading At a rear door leading off the second landing she knocked softly, but with insistence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On each landing she paused more for tears than for breath.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading It opened to a slight crack, then immediately swung back full span.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading On each landing she paused more for tears than for breath.
pretensenounUS /priˈtens/
the act of giving a false appearance
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading At a rear door leading off the second landing she knocked softly, but with insistence.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading At a rear door leading off the second landing she knocked softly, but with insistence.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading It opened to a slight crack, then immediately swung back full span.
with low volume
From this reading At a rear door leading off the second landing she knocked softly, but with insistence.
spannounUS /spæn/
the complete duration of something
From this reading It opened to a slight crack, then immediately swung back full span.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading It opened to a slight crack, then immediately swung back full span.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading On each landing she paused more for tears than for breath.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading On each landing she paused more for tears than for breath.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At a rear door leading off the second landing she knocked softly, but with insistence.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It opened to a slight crack, then immediately swung back full span.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It opened to a slight crack, then immediately swung back full span.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At a rear door leading off the second landing she knocked softly, but with insistence.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Midway in one of these blocks and without a pretense of hesitancy she turned into a black mouth of an entrance and up two flights.
