used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The customary visitors paused in the hall downstairs and did not venture to ascend to the third floor of the mansions.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
ascendverbUS /əˈsend/
travel up
From this reading The customary visitors paused in the hall downstairs and did not venture to ascend to the third floor of the mansions.
BachelorsnounUS /ˈbætʃlərz/
plural of “bachelor” — a man who has never been married
From this reading "Bachelors' Flat," in Collins Street, was peculiarly silent.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
caretakernounUS /ˈkerteɪkər/
a custodian who is hired to take care of something (property or a person)
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
chattered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
CollinsnounUS /ˈkɑːlɪnz/
English writer noted for early detective novels (1824-1889)
From this reading "Bachelors' Flat," in Collins Street, was peculiarly silent.
customaryadjectiveUS /ˈkʌstəmeri/
in accordance with convention or custom
From this reading The customary visitors paused in the hall downstairs and did not venture to ascend to the third floor of the mansions.
darkenedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənd/
(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
deliriumnounUS /dɪˈlɪriəm/
state of violent mental agitation
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
Desmond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The customary visitors paused in the hall downstairs and did not venture to ascend to the third floor of the mansions.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading The customary visitors paused in the hall downstairs and did not venture to ascend to the third floor of the mansions.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading "Bachelors' Flat," in Collins Street, was peculiarly silent.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The customary visitors paused in the hall downstairs and did not venture to ascend to the third floor of the mansions.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading GREAT IS THE TRUTH.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The customary visitors paused in the hall downstairs and did not venture to ascend to the third floor of the mansions.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Bachelors' Flat," in Collins Street, was peculiarly silent.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading GREAT IS THE TRUTH.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
mansionsnounUS /ˈmæntʃənz/
plural of “mansion” — (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading The customary visitors paused in the hall downstairs and did not venture to ascend to the third floor of the mansions.
the force of workers available
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
and nothing more
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The customary visitors paused in the hall downstairs and did not venture to ascend to the third floor of the mansions.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
O'ConnornounUS /oʊˈkɑːnər/
United States writer (1925-1964)
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The customary visitors paused in the hall downstairs and did not venture to ascend to the third floor of the mansions.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
the act of departing politely
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading The customary visitors paused in the hall downstairs and did not venture to ascend to the third floor of the mansions.
peculiarlyadverbUS /pɪˈkjuːljərli/
uniquely or characteristically
From this reading "Bachelors' Flat," in Collins Street, was peculiarly silent.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
savingnounUS /ˈseɪvɪŋ/
an act of economizing; reduction in cost
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading "Bachelors' Flat," in Collins Street, was peculiarly silent.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading "Bachelors' Flat," in Collins Street, was peculiarly silent.
sympatheticadjectiveUS /ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk/
of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading GREAT IS THE TRUTH.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading The customary visitors paused in the hall downstairs and did not venture to ascend to the third floor of the mansions.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The customary visitors paused in the hall downstairs and did not venture to ascend to the third floor of the mansions.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading GREAT IS THE TRUTH.
unceasinglyadverb
with unflagging resolve
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome
From this reading The customary visitors paused in the hall downstairs and did not venture to ascend to the third floor of the mansions.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading The customary visitors paused in the hall downstairs and did not venture to ascend to the third floor of the mansions.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Bachelors' Flat," in Collins Street, was peculiarly silent.
in or at the place that
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
whispersnounUS /ˈwɪspərz/
plural of “whisper” — speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
wildnessnounUS /ˈwaɪldnəs/
a feeling of extreme emotional intensity
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading In the flat itself men and women walked with quiet feet and spoke to one another in whispers, saving in the darkened room where Desmond O'Connor chattered unceasingly, and now shouted or laughed in the wildness of delirium.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Merely a sympathetic message to the caretaker, a few parting words of hope, or a shake of the head, and they passed on into the busy world outside.
