used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had not brought a light, and Frank could dimly see her face at the narrow opening.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading "No, I'm quite alone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had not brought a light, and Frank could dimly see her face at the narrow opening.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
boltsnounUS /boʊlts/
plural of “bolt” — a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading She had not brought a light, and Frank could dimly see her face at the narrow opening.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She had not brought a light, and Frank could dimly see her face at the narrow opening.
dearly loved
From this reading "What is it, my dear?" she said.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading She had not brought a light, and Frank could dimly see her face at the narrow opening.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She had not brought a light, and Frank could dimly see her face at the narrow opening.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading Make haste."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had not brought a light, and Frank could dimly see her face at the narrow opening.
housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/
a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, I'm quite alone.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What is it, my dear?" she said.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "What is it, my dear?" she said.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She had not brought a light, and Frank could dimly see her face at the narrow opening.
engage in
From this reading Make haste."
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "What is it, my dear?" she said.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading She had not brought a light, and Frank could dimly see her face at the narrow opening.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
not any; not one
From this reading "No, I'm quite alone.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
and nothing more
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading She had not brought a light, and Frank could dimly see her face at the narrow opening.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "No, I'm quite alone.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "What is it, my dear?" she said.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She had not brought a light, and Frank could dimly see her face at the narrow opening.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What is it, my dear?" she said.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
with low volume
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What is it, my dear?" she said.
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 The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The woman did not stop to close the window, and the next minute Frank heard the bolts drawn softly back, the key turned, and as the door was being opened he stepped forward, but only to stop short on the step, for the housekeeper had not removed the chain.
