used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
ascendingadjectiveUS /əˈsendɪŋ/
moving or going or growing upward
From this reading But the fifth opened to a narrow staircase; and ascending this on tip-toe, he presently found himself in the attic.
ATTICnounUS /ˈætɪk/
floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the fifth opened to a narrow staircase; and ascending this on tip-toe, he presently found himself in the attic.
closetsnounUS /ˈklɑːzəts/
plural of “closet” — a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading The third and fourth, into closets.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The first and second doors he tried opened into empty rooms.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading The first and second doors he tried opened into empty rooms.
ENCOUNTERverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
fifthnounUS /fɪfθ/
a quantity of liquor equal to one fifth of a United States gallon
From this reading But the fifth opened to a narrow staircase; and ascending this on tip-toe, he presently found himself in the attic.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first and second doors he tried opened into empty rooms.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
set up or found
From this reading But the fifth opened to a narrow staircase; and ascending this on tip-toe, he presently found himself in the attic.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading The third and fourth, into closets.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But the fifth opened to a narrow staircase; and ascending this on tip-toe, he presently found himself in the attic.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The first and second doors he tried opened into empty rooms.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading But the fifth opened to a narrow staircase; and ascending this on tip-toe, he presently found himself in the attic.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But the fifth opened to a narrow staircase; and ascending this on tip-toe, he presently found himself in the attic.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The first and second doors he tried opened into empty rooms.
in the near future
From this reading But the fifth opened to a narrow staircase; and ascending this on tip-toe, he presently found himself in the attic.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading The first and second doors he tried opened into empty rooms.
rumornounUS /ˈruːmər/
gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The first and second doors he tried opened into empty rooms.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading But the fifth opened to a narrow staircase; and ascending this on tip-toe, he presently found himself in the attic.
startleverbUS /ˈstɑːrtəl/
to stimulate to action
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
stealthilyadverb
in a stealthy manner
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading The third and fourth, into closets.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
tip-toe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the fifth opened to a narrow staircase; and ascending this on tip-toe, he presently found himself in the attic.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading The first and second doors he tried opened into empty rooms.
hard to endure
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
the topmost one of two
From this reading AN ENCOUNTER IN THE ATTIC He moved stealthily about the upper story of the house, trying this door and that.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He did not wish to disturb his companions, for he knew that a sound in the dark would startle them, especially after they had been told of the rumor that the house was haunted.
