used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
aperturenounUS /ˈæpərtʃər/
a device that controls amount of light admitted
From this reading There was a creaking of the mattress and sound of shuffling feet; the door was opened reluctantly, and Granfa, bare-legged, white of beard and red-shirted, stood in the aperture.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are you aware of the hour?" she demanded peremptorily.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Rise at once and open this door."
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading "Are you aware of the hour?" she demanded peremptorily.
bare-legged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a creaking of the mattress and sound of shuffling feet; the door was opened reluctantly, and Granfa, bare-legged, white of beard and red-shirted, stood in the aperture.
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading There was a creaking of the mattress and sound of shuffling feet; the door was opened reluctantly, and Granfa, bare-legged, white of beard and red-shirted, stood in the aperture.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading There was a creaking of the mattress and sound of shuffling feet; the door was opened reluctantly, and Granfa, bare-legged, white of beard and red-shirted, stood in the aperture.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "Are you aware of the hour?" she demanded peremptorily.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
dressing-gown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading There was a creaking of the mattress and sound of shuffling feet; the door was opened reluctantly, and Granfa, bare-legged, white of beard and red-shirted, stood in the aperture.
a long fixed look
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
Granfa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
Handsomebody
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading "Are you aware of the hour?" she demanded peremptorily.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
inarticulateadjectiveUS /ˌɪnɑːrˈtɪkjələt/
without or deprived of the use of speech or words
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
mattressnounUS /ˈmætrəs/
a large thick pad filled with resilient material and often incorporating coiled springs, used as a bed or part of a bed
From this reading There was a creaking of the mattress and sound of shuffling feet; the door was opened reluctantly, and Granfa, bare-legged, white of beard and red-shirted, stood in the aperture.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Are you aware of the hour?" she demanded peremptorily.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
on one occasion
From this reading "Rise at once and open this door."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading "Rise at once and open this door."
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading There was a creaking of the mattress and sound of shuffling feet; the door was opened reluctantly, and Granfa, bare-legged, white of beard and red-shirted, stood in the aperture.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
peremptorilyadverb
in an imperative and commanding manner
From this reading "Are you aware of the hour?" she demanded peremptorily.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
on the contrary
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
red-shirted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a creaking of the mattress and sound of shuffling feet; the door was opened reluctantly, and Granfa, bare-legged, white of beard and red-shirted, stood in the aperture.
reluctantlyadverbUS /rɪˈlʌktəntli/
with reluctance
From this reading There was a creaking of the mattress and sound of shuffling feet; the door was opened reluctantly, and Granfa, bare-legged, white of beard and red-shirted, stood in the aperture.
move upward
From this reading "Rise at once and open this door."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Are you aware of the hour?" she demanded peremptorily.
shrieknounUS /ʃriːk/
sharp piercing cry
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
shufflingnounUS /ˈʃʌflɪŋ/
walking with a slow dragging motion without lifting your feet
From this reading There was a creaking of the mattress and sound of shuffling feet; the door was opened reluctantly, and Granfa, bare-legged, white of beard and red-shirted, stood in the aperture.
slippersnounUS /ˈslɪpərz/
plural of “slipper” — low footwear that can be slipped on and off easily; usually worn indoors
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading There was a creaking of the mattress and sound of shuffling feet; the door was opened reluctantly, and Granfa, bare-legged, white of beard and red-shirted, stood in the aperture.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a creaking of the mattress and sound of shuffling feet; the door was opened reluctantly, and Granfa, bare-legged, white of beard and red-shirted, stood in the aperture.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Rise at once and open this door."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody did not shriek; rather she made the inarticulate noises of one in a nightmare and put out her hands as if to keep Granfa off.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a creaking of the mattress and sound of shuffling feet; the door was opened reluctantly, and Granfa, bare-legged, white of beard and red-shirted, stood in the aperture.
a Caucasian
From this reading There was a creaking of the mattress and sound of shuffling feet; the door was opened reluctantly, and Granfa, bare-legged, white of beard and red-shirted, stood in the aperture.
woollennounUS /ˈwʊlən/
a fabric made from the hair of sheep
From this reading Mrs. Handsomebody, in purple dressing-gown and red woollen slippers, stood in a listening attitude, her gaze bent on the door that hid Granfa.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Are you aware of the hour?" she demanded peremptorily.
