used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading He was afraid to sleep.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He wandered in cellars, and through the manhole saw the grinning flayed man entering.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
cellarsnounUS /ˈselərz/
plural of “cellar” — the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading He wandered in cellars, and through the manhole saw the grinning flayed man entering.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading He was with his family, and suddenly their faces changed; they did crazy things.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
crazyadjectiveUS /ˈkreɪzi/
affected with madness or insanity
From this reading He was with his family, and suddenly their faces changed; they did crazy things.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He was with his family, and suddenly their faces changed; they did crazy things.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
a movement into or inward
From this reading He wandered in cellars, and through the manhole saw the grinning flayed man entering.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He was with his family, and suddenly their faces changed; they did crazy things.
a social unit living together
From this reading He was with his family, and suddenly their faces changed; they did crazy things.
flayedverbUS /fleɪd/
past form of “flay” — strip the skin off
From this reading He wandered in cellars, and through the manhole saw the grinning flayed man entering.
footstepnounUS /ˈfʊtstep/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For several years nightmares poisoned his rest.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
grinningnounUS /ˈɡrɪnɪŋ/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading He wandered in cellars, and through the manhole saw the grinning flayed man entering.
handleverbUS /ˈhændəl/
be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was afraid to sleep.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For several years nightmares poisoned his rest.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
hurledverbUS /hɜːrld/
past form of “hurl” — throw forcefully
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He wandered in cellars, and through the manhole saw the grinning flayed man entering.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
and nothing more
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
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 He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
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 He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He wandered in cellars, and through the manhole saw the grinning flayed man entering.
manholenounUS /ˈmænhoʊl/
a hole (usually with a flush cover) through which a person can gain access to an underground structure
From this reading He wandered in cellars, and through the manhole saw the grinning flayed man entering.
nightmaresnounUS /ˈnaɪtmerz/
plural of “nightmare” — a situation resembling a terrifying dream
From this reading For several years nightmares poisoned his rest.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
poisonedverbUS /ˈpɔɪzənd/
past form of “poison” — spoil as if by poison
From this reading For several years nightmares poisoned his rest.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading For several years nightmares poisoned his rest.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
cut with a saw
From this reading He wandered in cellars, and through the manhole saw the grinning flayed man entering.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading For several years nightmares poisoned his rest.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading He was afraid to sleep.
stealthyadjectiveUS /ˈstelθi/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading He was with his family, and suddenly their faces changed; they did crazy things.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He wandered in cellars, and through the manhole saw the grinning flayed man entering.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He was with his family, and suddenly their faces changed; they did crazy things.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was with his family, and suddenly their faces changed; they did crazy things.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He was with his family, and suddenly their faces changed; they did crazy things.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He wandered in cellars, and through the manhole saw the grinning flayed man entering.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was afraid to sleep.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He was alone in a room, and he heard a stealthy footstep in the corridor; he hurled himself against the door to close it, and was just in time to hold the handle; but it was turned from the outside; he could not turn the key, his strength left him, and he cried for help.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading He wandered in cellars, and through the manhole saw the grinning flayed man entering.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was afraid to sleep.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was with his family, and suddenly their faces changed; they did crazy things.
a late time of life
From this reading For several years nightmares poisoned his rest.
