used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hugh stood staring at them dully a moment before he spoke, “Dick.”
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was dark in the passage outside the door, and Hugh fumbled stupidly to find the latch.
assertionnounUS /əˈsɜːrʃən/
a declaration that is made emphatically (as if no supporting evidence were necessary)
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Hugh stood staring at them dully a moment before he spoke, “Dick.”
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
bedsidenounUS /ˈbedsaɪd/
space by the side of a bed (especially the bed of a sick or dying person)
From this reading Hugh stepped over to the bedside.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Hugh stood staring at them dully a moment before he spoke, “Dick.”
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
checkeredadjectiveUS /ˈtʃekərd/
patterned with alternating squares of color
From this reading Inside two patches of moonlight, checkered like the diamond panes of the windows, lay on the floor.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was dark in the passage outside the door, and Hugh fumbled stupidly to find the latch.
diamondnounUS /ˈdaɪmənd/
a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading Inside two patches of moonlight, checkered like the diamond panes of the windows, lay on the floor.
someone who is a detective
From this reading Hugh stood staring at them dully a moment before he spoke, “Dick.”
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading It was dark in the passage outside the door, and Hugh fumbled stupidly to find the latch.
dullyadverb
without liveliness
From this reading Hugh stood staring at them dully a moment before he spoke, “Dick.”
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
the organ of sight
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading It was dark in the passage outside the door, and Hugh fumbled stupidly to find the latch.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Inside two patches of moonlight, checkered like the diamond panes of the windows, lay on the floor.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
fumbledverbUS /ˈfʌmbəld/
past form of “fumble” — feel about uncertainly or blindly
From this reading It was dark in the passage outside the door, and Hugh fumbled stupidly to find the latch.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hugh stood staring at them dully a moment before he spoke, “Dick.”
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dark in the passage outside the door, and Hugh fumbled stupidly to find the latch.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was dark in the passage outside the door, and Hugh fumbled stupidly to find the latch.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Inside two patches of moonlight, checkered like the diamond panes of the windows, lay on the floor.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was dark in the passage outside the door, and Hugh fumbled stupidly to find the latch.
latchverbUS /lætʃ/
fasten with a latch
From this reading It was dark in the passage outside the door, and Hugh fumbled stupidly to find the latch.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Inside two patches of moonlight, checkered like the diamond panes of the windows, lay on the floor.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Inside two patches of moonlight, checkered like the diamond panes of the windows, lay on the floor.
a particular point in time
From this reading Hugh stood staring at them dully a moment before he spoke, “Dick.”
the light of the Moon
From this reading Inside two patches of moonlight, checkered like the diamond panes of the windows, lay on the floor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Inside two patches of moonlight, checkered like the diamond panes of the windows, lay on the floor.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Inside two patches of moonlight, checkered like the diamond panes of the windows, lay on the floor.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading It was dark in the passage outside the door, and Hugh fumbled stupidly to find the latch.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Hugh stepped over to the bedside.
panesnounUS /peɪnz/
plural of “pane” — sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading Inside two patches of moonlight, checkered like the diamond panes of the windows, lay on the floor.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading It was dark in the passage outside the door, and Hugh fumbled stupidly to find the latch.
patchesnounUS /ˈpætʃəz/
plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something
From this reading Inside two patches of moonlight, checkered like the diamond panes of the windows, lay on the floor.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Hugh stood staring at them dully a moment before he spoke, “Dick.”
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading Hugh stood staring at them dully a moment before he spoke, “Dick.”
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Hugh stepped over to the bedside.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Hugh stood staring at them dully a moment before he spoke, “Dick.”
Strangwayes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
stupidlyadverbUS /ˈstuːpədli/
in a stupid manner
From this reading It was dark in the passage outside the door, and Hugh fumbled stupidly to find the latch.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was dark in the passage outside the door, and Hugh fumbled stupidly to find the latch.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Hugh stood staring at them dully a moment before he spoke, “Dick.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was dark in the passage outside the door, and Hugh fumbled stupidly to find the latch.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Inside two patches of moonlight, checkered like the diamond panes of the windows, lay on the floor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was dark in the passage outside the door, and Hugh fumbled stupidly to find the latch.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
in or at the place that
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Inside two patches of moonlight, checkered like the diamond panes of the windows, lay on the floor.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Well?” came from the black corner where the bed stood; it was Strangwayes’ assertion that he always slept with one eye and one ear alert.
