used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
anew
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He lifted her in his arms and strode through the silent corridors to the stairs.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading He lifted her in his arms and strode through the silent corridors to the stairs.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he crossed the threshold, the cat sprang from his arms into the shadows.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading When he had stood knocking for a long time, something moved behind the door; it opened and he went in.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading As he crossed the threshold, the cat sprang from his arms into the shadows.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
corridorsnounUS /ˈkɔːrɪdərz/
plural of “corridor” — an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading He lifted her in his arms and strode through the silent corridors to the stairs.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
placed crosswise
From this reading As he crossed the threshold, the cat sprang from his arms into the shadows.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The room was dark.
dennounUS /den/
the habitation of wild animals
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
flightsnounUS /flaɪts/
plural of “flight” — a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When he had stood knocking for a long time, something moved behind the door; it opened and he went in.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As he crossed the threshold, the cat sprang from his arms into the shadows.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When he had stood knocking for a long time, something moved behind the door; it opened and he went in.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He lifted her in his arms and strode through the silent corridors to the stairs.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He lifted her in his arms and strode through the silent corridors to the stairs.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He lifted her in his arms and strode through the silent corridors to the stairs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He lifted her in his arms and strode through the silent corridors to the stairs.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When he had stood knocking for a long time, something moved behind the door; it opened and he went in.
knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading When he had stood knocking for a long time, something moved behind the door; it opened and he went in.
held up in the air
From this reading He lifted her in his arms and strode through the silent corridors to the stairs.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading When he had stood knocking for a long time, something moved behind the door; it opened and he went in.
moonlitadjectiveUS /ˈmuːnlɪt/
lighted by moonlight
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading When he had stood knocking for a long time, something moved behind the door; it opened and he went in.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading When he had stood knocking for a long time, something moved behind the door; it opened and he went in.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room was dark.
sculptor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading As he crossed the threshold, the cat sprang from his arms into the shadows.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading He lifted her in his arms and strode through the silent corridors to the stairs.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading When he had stood knocking for a long time, something moved behind the door; it opened and he went in.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading As he crossed the threshold, the cat sprang from his arms into the shadows.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading He lifted her in his arms and strode through the silent corridors to the stairs.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading When he had stood knocking for a long time, something moved behind the door; it opened and he went in.
strodeverbUS /stroʊd/
inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading He lifted her in his arms and strode through the silent corridors to the stairs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He lifted her in his arms and strode through the silent corridors to the stairs.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading As he crossed the threshold, the cat sprang from his arms into the shadows.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He lifted her in his arms and strode through the silent corridors to the stairs.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading When he had stood knocking for a long time, something moved behind the door; it opened and he went in.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He lifted her in his arms and strode through the silent corridors to the stairs.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The room was dark.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When he had stood knocking for a long time, something moved behind the door; it opened and he went in.
at the time that
From this reading When he had stood knocking for a long time, something moved behind the door; it opened and he went in.
a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.
worm-eatenadjective
infested with or damaged (as if eaten) by worms
From this reading Down five flights and into the moonlit court, past the little sculptor’s den, and then again in at the gate of the north wing and up the worm-eaten stairs he passed, until he came to a closed door.