used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Daringly, he tiptoed along the dark corridor until he came to a stairway.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
basementnounUS /ˈbeɪsmənt/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading A board creaked beneath his weight.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading A board creaked beneath his weight.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Daringly, he tiptoed along the dark corridor until he came to a stairway.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading He groped his way cautiously down.
cementnounUS /səˈment/
concrete pavement is sometimes referred to as cement
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading Daringly, he tiptoed along the dark corridor until he came to a stairway.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
creakedverbUS /kriːkt/
past form of “creak” — make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading A board creaked beneath his weight.
Daringlyadverb
in an original manner
From this reading Daringly, he tiptoed along the dark corridor until he came to a stairway.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Daringly, he tiptoed along the dark corridor until he came to a stairway.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
distinguishverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
mark as different
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He groped his way cautiously down.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
gropedverbUS /ɡroʊpt/
past form of “grope” — feel about uncertainly or blindly
From this reading He groped his way cautiously down.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He groped his way cautiously down.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
in like or similar manner
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
scrapingnounUS /ˈskreɪpɪŋ/
(usually plural) a fragment scraped off of something and collected
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading Daringly, he tiptoed along the dark corridor until he came to a stairway.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
tiptoedverbUS /ˈtɪptoʊd/
past form of “tiptoe” — walk on one's toes
From this reading Daringly, he tiptoed along the dark corridor until he came to a stairway.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Daringly, he tiptoed along the dark corridor until he came to a stairway.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He groped his way cautiously down.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading A board creaked beneath his weight.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading From the direction of the basement, Flash could hear a scraping noise as if a large box were being dragged across the cement floor.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A low murmur of voices likewise reached him, but he was too far away to distinguish what was being said.
