used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
blownadjectiveUS /bloʊn/
being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
dreadingverbUS /ˈdredɪŋ/
-ing form of “dread” — be afraid or scared of; be frightened of
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It perplexed him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It perplexed him.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
in the recent past
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
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 could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
come together
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
in motion
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
NervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
not any; not one
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
pavementnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənt/
the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
perplexedadjectiveUS /pərˈplekst/
full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment
From this reading It perplexed him.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
purposelyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrpəsli/
with intention; in an intentional manner
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
stragglernounUS /ˈstræɡlər/
someone who strays or falls behind
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
throngedadjectiveUS /θrɔːŋd/
filled with great numbers crowded together
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
which person or people
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
but in spite of that
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
