used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading Joshua saw that she believed him to be asleep, and he closed his eyes as she approached the bed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
in a state of sleep
From this reading Joshua saw that she believed him to be asleep, and he closed his eyes as she approached the bed.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Joshua saw that she believed him to be asleep, and he closed his eyes as she approached the bed.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Without moving in his bed, he turned his eyes towards the door, and, in the indistinct light, he saw his mother enter the room.
bedroom-door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Joshua saw that she believed him to be asleep, and he closed his eyes as she approached the bed.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Her movements were so quiet, that he did not know she was close to him, until she gently took his hand and placed it to her lips.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Joshua saw that she believed him to be asleep, and he closed his eyes as she approached the bed.
creakverbUS /kriːk/
make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Her movements were so quiet, that he did not know she was close to him, until she gently took his hand and placed it to her lips.
disturbingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/
causing distress or worry or anxiety
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Without moving in his bed, he turned his eyes towards the door, and, in the indistinct light, he saw his mother enter the room.
to come or go into
From this reading Without moving in his bed, he turned his eyes towards the door, and, in the indistinct light, he saw his mother enter the room.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Without moving in his bed, he turned his eyes towards the door, and, in the indistinct light, he saw his mother enter the room.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Her movements were so quiet, that he did not know she was close to him, until she gently took his hand and placed it to her lips.
half-asleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
half-awake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Without moving in his bed, he turned his eyes towards the door, and, in the indistinct light, he saw his mother enter the room.
indistinctadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈstɪŋkt/
not clearly defined or easy to perceive or understand
From this reading Without moving in his bed, he turned his eyes towards the door, and, in the indistinct light, he saw his mother enter the room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Her movements were so quiet, that he did not know she was close to him, until she gently took his hand and placed it to her lips.
JoshuanounUS /ˈdʒɑːʃuːə/
(Old Testament) Moses' successor who led the Israelites into the Promised Land; best remembered for his destruction of Jericho
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Her movements were so quiet, that he did not know she was close to him, until she gently took his hand and placed it to her lips.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Without moving in his bed, he turned his eyes towards the door, and, in the indistinct light, he saw his mother enter the room.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Her movements were so quiet, that he did not know she was close to him, until she gently took his hand and placed it to her lips.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
a particular point in time
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Without moving in his bed, he turned his eyes towards the door, and, in the indistinct light, he saw his mother enter the room.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Her movements were so quiet, that he did not know she was close to him, until she gently took his hand and placed it to her lips.
in motion
From this reading Without moving in his bed, he turned his eyes towards the door, and, in the indistinct light, he saw his mother enter the room.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Her movements were so quiet, that he did not know she was close to him, until she gently took his hand and placed it to her lips.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Her movements were so quiet, that he did not know she was close to him, until she gently took his hand and placed it to her lips.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Her movements were so quiet, that he did not know she was close to him, until she gently took his hand and placed it to her lips.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Without moving in his bed, he turned his eyes towards the door, and, in the indistinct light, he saw his mother enter the room.
cut with a saw
From this reading Without moving in his bed, he turned his eyes towards the door, and, in the indistinct light, he saw his mother enter the room.
sea-pictures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Her movements were so quiet, that he did not know she was close to him, until she gently took his hand and placed it to her lips.
with low volume
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Without moving in his bed, he turned his eyes towards the door, and, in the indistinct light, he saw his mother enter the room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Her movements were so quiet, that he did not know she was close to him, until she gently took his hand and placed it to her lips.
in the direction of
From this reading Without moving in his bed, he turned his eyes towards the door, and, in the indistinct light, he saw his mother enter the room.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Without moving in his bed, he turned his eyes towards the door, and, in the indistinct light, he saw his mother enter the room.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Her movements were so quiet, that he did not know she was close to him, until she gently took his hand and placed it to her lips.
precisely as stated
From this reading She opened the door very softly, as if fearful of disturbing him, and she paused for a moment or two in the open space, with her hand raised in a listening attitude.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her movements were so quiet, that he did not know she was close to him, until she gently took his hand and placed it to her lips.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THAT night, as Joshua was lying half-awake and half-asleep, his mind being filled with pleasant sea-pictures, he was surprised to hear his bedroom-door creak.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without moving in his bed, he turned his eyes towards the door, and, in the indistinct light, he saw his mother enter the room.
