used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The door was standing ajar; she pushed it open, entered and closed it after her.
ajaradjectiveUS /əˈdʒɑːr/
slightly open
From this reading The door was standing ajar; she pushed it open, entered and closed it after her.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Their smooth, undarkened soles came as a sudden shock to her; she had been so certain that she would have no need to look further.
aviditynoun
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
any cognitive content held as true
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
brother'snounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/
possessive form of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Their smooth, undarkened soles came as a sudden shock to her; she had been so certain that she would have no need to look further.
Celia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Their smooth, undarkened soles came as a sudden shock to her; she had been so certain that she would have no need to look further.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
climaxnounUS /ˈklaɪmæks/
the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The door was standing ajar; she pushed it open, entered and closed it after her.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
criminaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmənəl/
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
crushingadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌʃɪŋ/
physically or spiritually devastating; often used in combination
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
causing or capable of causing death
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
delayingverbUS /dɪˈleɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “delay” — cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The door was standing ajar; she pushed it open, entered and closed it after her.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
drawernounUS /drɔːr/
a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading The door was standing ajar; she pushed it open, entered and closed it after her.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
Evelyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
footprintnounUS /ˈfʊtprɪnt/
a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Their smooth, undarkened soles came as a sudden shock to her; she had been so certain that she would have no need to look further.
guiltnounUS /ɡɪlt/
the state of having committed an offense
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Their smooth, undarkened soles came as a sudden shock to her; she had been so certain that she would have no need to look further.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
intense and profound fear
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
Humblethorne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
intimacynounUS /ˈɪntəməsi/
close or warm friendship
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
investigationsnounUS /ˌɪnvestəˈɡeɪʃənz/
plural of “investigation” — an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The door was standing ajar; she pushed it open, entered and closed it after her.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Their smooth, undarkened soles came as a sudden shock to her; she had been so certain that she would have no need to look further.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
a particular point in time
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
nauseanounUS /ˈnɔːziə/
the state that precedes vomiting
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Their smooth, undarkened soles came as a sudden shock to her; she had been so certain that she would have no need to look further.
not any; not one
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The door was standing ajar; she pushed it open, entered and closed it after her.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
patternnounUS /ˈpætərn/
a perceptual structure
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
Philip'snounUS /ˈfɪləps/
possessive form of “philip” — Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
pouncedverbUS /paʊnst/
past form of “pounce” — move down on as if in an attack
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading The door was standing ajar; she pushed it open, entered and closed it after her.
regainedverbUS /riˈɡeɪnd/
past form of “regain” — get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading Their smooth, undarkened soles came as a sudden shock to her; she had been so certain that she would have no need to look further.
a particular situation
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading Their smooth, undarkened soles came as a sudden shock to her; she had been so certain that she would have no need to look further.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Their smooth, undarkened soles came as a sudden shock to her; she had been so certain that she would have no need to look further.
solesnounUS /soʊlz/
plural of “sol” — a colloid that has a continuous liquid phase in which a solid is suspended in a liquid
From this reading Their smooth, undarkened soles came as a sudden shock to her; she had been so certain that she would have no need to look further.
having a supporting base
From this reading The door was standing ajar; she pushed it open, entered and closed it after her.
stoopedadjectiveUS /stuːpt/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Their smooth, undarkened soles came as a sudden shock to her; she had been so certain that she would have no need to look further.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their smooth, undarkened soles came as a sudden shock to her; she had been so certain that she would have no need to look further.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
torturesnounUS /ˈtɔːrtʃərz/
plural of “torture” — extreme mental distress
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
uncertaintynounUS /ənˈsɜːrtənti/
being unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance
From this reading Now that she had come to the climax of her investigations her mind for all its deadly horror was free of the tortures of uncertainty; intimacy, free and absolute, had been regained between her and Celia, and she had had the joy of taking from Celia the crushing belief in her brother’s guilt.
undarkened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their smooth, undarkened soles came as a sudden shock to her; she had been so certain that she would have no need to look further.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The door was standing ajar; she pushed it open, entered and closed it after her.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But the criminal remained in all his blackness, and her heart knew no pity there: she stooped and, fighting down a sense of nausea, took up the pair of evening shoes on which Humblethorne had pounced with avidity on his entrance the day before.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading A Chain of Confusion Without delaying a moment Evelyn took the paper pattern of the footprint she had discovered from her drawer and went along the corridor to Philip’s room.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Their smooth, undarkened soles came as a sudden shock to her; she had been so certain that she would have no need to look further.
