used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
altercationnounUS /ˌɑːltərˈkeɪʃən/
noisy quarrel
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
assumeverbUS /əˈsuːm/
take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
dreamyadjectiveUS /ˈdriːmi/
dreamy in mood or nature
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
drunkenadjectiveUS /ˈdrʌŋkən/
given to or marked by the consumption of alcohol
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Grif had thrown himself upon the floor at her feet.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Grif had thrown himself upon the floor at her feet.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
Grif
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grif had thrown himself upon the floor at her feet.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Grif had thrown himself upon the floor at her feet.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Grif had thrown himself upon the floor at her feet.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Grif had thrown himself upon the floor at her feet.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE.
intervalsnounUS /ˈɪntərvəlz/
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
listlessnessnoun
a feeling of lack of interest or energy
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
a particular point in time
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
and nothing more
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
patteredverbUS /ˈpætərd/
past form of “patter” — rain gently
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
relapseverbUS /riˈlæps/
deteriorate in health
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
ruffian's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
shrieknounUS /ʃriːk/
sharp piercing cry
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
not in physical motion
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading Grif had thrown himself upon the floor at her feet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
undisturbedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈstɜːrbd/
untroubled by interference or disturbance
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
watchfulnessnoun
the process of paying close and continuous attention
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading HUSBAND AND WIFE.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading At intervals sounds of altercation from without were heard, and occasionally a woman's drunken shriek or a ruffian's muttered curse was borne upon the angry wind.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading The rain pattered down, faster and faster, as the night wore on, and still the two strange companions sat, silent and undisturbed, before the fire.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A step upon the creaking stairs would cause the girl's face to assume an expression of watchfulness: for a moment only; the next, she would relapse into dreamy listlessness.
