used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
in the past
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
(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 A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading His own regular footfall alone disturbed the unnatural stillness of a large house.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Outside, the delicious October sun poured down through an atmosphere of faultless blue.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading Outside, the delicious October sun poured down through an atmosphere of faultless blue.
Belden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TO Belden, pacing the library doggedly, the waiting seemed interminable, the strain unnecessarily prolonged.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Outside, the delicious October sun poured down through an atmosphere of faultless blue.
breathsnounUS /breθs/
plural of “breath” — the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
dancedverbUS /dænst/
past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way
From this reading The foliage was thick yet, and the red-and-yellow leaves danced heartlessly in the wind.
deliciousadjectiveUS /dɪˈlɪʃəs/
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading Outside, the delicious October sun poured down through an atmosphere of faultless blue.
having the place or position changed
From this reading His own regular footfall alone disturbed the unnatural stillness of a large house.
doggedlyadverbUS /ˈdɔːɡədli/
with obstinate determination
From this reading TO Belden, pacing the library doggedly, the waiting seemed interminable, the strain unnecessarily prolonged.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Outside, the delicious October sun poured down through an atmosphere of faultless blue.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
faultlessadjective
without fault or error
From this reading Outside, the delicious October sun poured down through an atmosphere of faultless blue.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
foliagenounUS /ˈfoʊlɪdʒ/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The foliage was thick yet, and the red-and-yellow leaves danced heartlessly in the wind.
footfallnounUS /ˈfʊtfɔːl/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading His own regular footfall alone disturbed the unnatural stillness of a large house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
half-hournounUS /ˈhæfaʊər/
a half of an hour
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
hallsnounUS /hɔːlz/
plural of “hall” — an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
heartlesslyadverb
in a heartless manner
From this reading The foliage was thick yet, and the red-and-yellow leaves danced heartlessly in the wind.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His own regular footfall alone disturbed the unnatural stillness of a large house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading His own regular footfall alone disturbed the unnatural stillness of a large house.
hoveredverbUS /ˈhʌvərd/
past form of “hover” — be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
impalpablyadverb
not substantially; lacking substantial expression or fullness
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The foliage was thick yet, and the red-and-yellow leaves danced heartlessly in the wind.
interminableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrmənəbəl/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading TO Belden, pacing the library doggedly, the waiting seemed interminable, the strain unnecessarily prolonged.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His own regular footfall alone disturbed the unnatural stillness of a large house.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The foliage was thick yet, and the red-and-yellow leaves danced heartlessly in the wind.
a room where books are kept
From this reading TO Belden, pacing the library doggedly, the waiting seemed interminable, the strain unnecessarily prolonged.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/
the month following September and preceding November
From this reading Outside, the delicious October sun poured down through an atmosphere of faultless blue.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His own regular footfall alone disturbed the unnatural stillness of a large house.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Outside, the delicious October sun poured down through an atmosphere of faultless blue.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading His own regular footfall alone disturbed the unnatural stillness of a large house.
pacingnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/
(music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
From this reading TO Belden, pacing the library doggedly, the waiting seemed interminable, the strain unnecessarily prolonged.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading Outside, the delicious October sun poured down through an atmosphere of faultless blue.
prolongedadjectiveUS /prəˈlɔːŋd/
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading TO Belden, pacing the library doggedly, the waiting seemed interminable, the strain unnecessarily prolonged.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
red-and-yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The foliage was thick yet, and the red-and-yellow leaves danced heartlessly in the wind.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading His own regular footfall alone disturbed the unnatural stillness of a large house.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading TO Belden, pacing the library doggedly, the waiting seemed interminable, the strain unnecessarily prolonged.
slammedverbUS /slæmd/
inflected form of “slam” — close violently
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading His own regular footfall alone disturbed the unnatural stillness of a large house.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading TO Belden, pacing the library doggedly, the waiting seemed interminable, the strain unnecessarily prolonged.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Outside, the delicious October sun poured down through an atmosphere of faultless blue.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TO Belden, pacing the library doggedly, the waiting seemed interminable, the strain unnecessarily prolonged.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The foliage was thick yet, and the red-and-yellow leaves danced heartlessly in the wind.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TO Belden, pacing the library doggedly, the waiting seemed interminable, the strain unnecessarily prolonged.
unnaturaladjectiveUS /ənˈnætʃərəl/
not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature
From this reading His own regular footfall alone disturbed the unnatural stillness of a large house.
unnecessarilyadverbUS /ənˈnesəserəli/
in an unnecessary manner
From this reading TO Belden, pacing the library doggedly, the waiting seemed interminable, the strain unnecessarily prolonged.
the topmost one of two
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading TO Belden, pacing the library doggedly, the waiting seemed interminable, the strain unnecessarily prolonged.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
whisperings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The foliage was thick yet, and the red-and-yellow leaves danced heartlessly in the wind.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading A half-hour ago quick feet had echoed through the upper halls, windows had opened, doors all but slammed, vague whisperings and drawn breaths had hovered impalpably about the whole place; but now all was utterly quiet.
but in spite of that
From this reading The foliage was thick yet, and the red-and-yellow leaves danced heartlessly in the wind.
