used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
for the reason that
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
boltnounUS /boʊlt/
a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
darkenverbUS /ˈdɑːrkən/
become dark or darker
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
recognizable; marked
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
Elsie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
fasteningsnounUS /ˈfæsənɪŋz/
plural of “fastening” — restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
the act of departing
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
come to pass
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
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 Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
latchkeynounUS /ˈlætʃkiː/
key for raising or drawing back a latch or opening an outside door
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
oiledadjectiveUS /ɔɪld/
treated with oil
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
StaffernounUS /ˈstæfər/
an employee who is a member of a staff of workers (especially a member of the staff that works for the President of the United States)
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
startleverbUS /ˈstɑːrtəl/
to stimulate to action
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
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 thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
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 With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
