used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A dance was in progress.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading THE LESSON Ten minutes later Scott descended the stairs alone and returned to the salon.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Finally, having satisfied himself that his brother was not among the dancers, he turned away.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE LESSON Ten minutes later Scott descended the stairs alone and returned to the salon.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Finally, having satisfied himself that his brother was not among the dancers, he turned away.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Finally, having satisfied himself that his brother was not among the dancers, he turned away.
placed crosswise
From this reading With his usual quietness of demeanour, he crossed the vestibule, and looked into the smoking-room.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading A dance was in progress.
dancersnounUS /ˈdænsərz/
plural of “dancer” — a performer who dances professionally
From this reading Finally, having satisfied himself that his brother was not among the dancers, he turned away.
demeanournounUS /dɪˈmiːnər/
(behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people
From this reading With his usual quietness of demeanour, he crossed the vestibule, and looked into the smoking-room.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading THE LESSON Ten minutes later Scott descended the stairs alone and returned to the salon.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading He stood for a space in the doorway, watching.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Finally, having satisfied himself that his brother was not among the dancers, he turned away.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He stood for a space in the doorway, watching.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Finally, having satisfied himself that his brother was not among the dancers, he turned away.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stood for a space in the doorway, watching.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Finally, having satisfied himself that his brother was not among the dancers, he turned away.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Finally, having satisfied himself that his brother was not among the dancers, he turned away.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A dance was in progress.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading With his usual quietness of demeanour, he crossed the vestibule, and looked into the smoking-room.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading THE LESSON Ten minutes later Scott descended the stairs alone and returned to the salon.
a unit of instruction
From this reading THE LESSON Ten minutes later Scott descended the stairs alone and returned to the salon.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading With his usual quietness of demeanour, he crossed the vestibule, and looked into the smoking-room.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading THE LESSON Ten minutes later Scott descended the stairs alone and returned to the salon.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Finally, having satisfied himself that his brother was not among the dancers, he turned away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With his usual quietness of demeanour, he crossed the vestibule, and looked into the smoking-room.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading A dance was in progress.
quietnessnounUS /ˈkwaɪətnəs/
the property of making no sound
From this reading With his usual quietness of demeanour, he crossed the vestibule, and looked into the smoking-room.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THE LESSON Ten minutes later Scott descended the stairs alone and returned to the salon.
salonnounUS /səˈlɑːn/
gallery where works of art can be displayed
From this reading THE LESSON Ten minutes later Scott descended the stairs alone and returned to the salon.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading Finally, having satisfied himself that his brother was not among the dancers, he turned away.
ScottnounUS /skɑːt/
award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)
From this reading THE LESSON Ten minutes later Scott descended the stairs alone and returned to the salon.
smoking-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With his usual quietness of demeanour, he crossed the vestibule, and looked into the smoking-room.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading He stood for a space in the doorway, watching.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading THE LESSON Ten minutes later Scott descended the stairs alone and returned to the salon.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He stood for a space in the doorway, watching.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading THE LESSON Ten minutes later Scott descended the stairs alone and returned to the salon.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Finally, having satisfied himself that his brother was not among the dancers, he turned away.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LESSON Ten minutes later Scott descended the stairs alone and returned to the salon.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE LESSON Ten minutes later Scott descended the stairs alone and returned to the salon.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Finally, having satisfied himself that his brother was not among the dancers, he turned away.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading With his usual quietness of demeanour, he crossed the vestibule, and looked into the smoking-room.
vestibulenounUS /ˈvestɪbjuːl/
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading With his usual quietness of demeanour, he crossed the vestibule, and looked into the smoking-room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A dance was in progress.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading He stood for a space in the doorway, watching.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With his usual quietness of demeanour, he crossed the vestibule, and looked into the smoking-room.
