adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading At the doorway of the Howe Street flats a man, muffled in a cravat and greatcoat, was leaning against the railing.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At the doorway of the Howe Street flats a man, muffled in a cravat and greatcoat, was leaning against the railing.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
buildingnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋ/
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
cravatnounUS /krəˈvæt/
A short, wide strip of silk fabric worn by gentlemen around the neck inside an open-collared shirt.
From this reading At the doorway of the Howe Street flats a man, muffled in a cravat and greatcoat, was leaning against the railing.
criedverbUS /kraɪd/
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Holmes!” he cried.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
doorwaynounUS /ˈdɔːrweɪ/
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 At the doorway of the Howe Street flats a man, muffled in a cravat and greatcoat, was leaning against the railing.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
facesnounUS /ˈfeɪsəz/
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He started as the hall-light fell upon our faces.
fellverbUS /fel/
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading He started as the hall-light fell upon our faces.
flatsnounUS /flæts/
footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)
From this reading At the doorway of the Howe Street flats a man, muffled in a cravat and greatcoat, was leaning against the railing.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
gazingverbUS /ˈɡeɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
glancedverbUS /ɡlænst/
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
greatcoatnoun
a heavy coat worn over clothes in winter
From this reading At the doorway of the Howe Street flats a man, muffled in a cravat and greatcoat, was leaning against the railing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
hall-light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He started as the hall-light fell upon our faces.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He started as the hall-light fell upon our faces.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
HolmesnounUS /hoʊmz/
a fictitious detective in stories by A. Conan Doyle
From this reading “Holmes!” he cried.
HowenounUS /haʊ/
United States editor (1920-1993)
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the doorway of the Howe Street flats a man, muffled in a cravat and greatcoat, was leaning against the railing.
interruptedadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪd/
discontinued temporarily
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
leaningadjectiveUS /ˈliːnɪŋ/
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading At the doorway of the Howe Street flats a man, muffled in a cravat and greatcoat, was leaning against the railing.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading At the doorway of the Howe Street flats a man, muffled in a cravat and greatcoat, was leaning against the railing.
messagenounUS /ˈmesədʒ/
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading At the doorway of the Howe Street flats a man, muffled in a cravat and greatcoat, was leaning against the railing.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading He started as the hall-light fell upon our faces.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
outlinedadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnd/
showing clearly the outline or profile or boundary
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
railingnounUS /ˈreɪlɪŋ/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading At the doorway of the Howe Street flats a man, muffled in a cravat and greatcoat, was leaning against the railing.
rapidlyadverbUS /ˈræpədli/
with speed
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
renewalnounUS /rɪˈnuːəl/
the conversion of wasteland into land suitable for use of habitation or cultivation
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
rigidlyadverbUS /ˈrɪdʒɪdli/
in a rigid manner
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He started as the hall-light fell upon our faces.
StreetnounUS /striːt/
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
suspensenounUS /səˈspens/
apprehension about what is going to happen
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
tenselyadverbUS /ˈtensli/
in a tense manner
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
topnounUS /tɑːp/
the upper part of anything
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He started as the hall-light fell upon our faces.
waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At the doorway of the Howe Street flats a man, muffled in a cravat and greatcoat, was leaning against the railing.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As we walked rapidly down Howe Street I glanced back at the building which we had left.
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading There, dimly outlined at the top window, I could see the shadow of a head, a woman’s head, gazing tensely, rigidly, out into the night, waiting with breathless suspense for the renewal of that interrupted message.
