used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was quite true that a footstep had paused outside the nursery-door.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
ajaradjectiveUS /əˈdʒɑːr/
slightly open
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Two strange white faces were there instead of Mary’s familiar black one.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
placed crosswise
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
detectedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtektəd/
perceived or discerned
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Two strange white faces were there instead of Mary’s familiar black one.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading Two strange white faces were there instead of Mary’s familiar black one.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
footstepnounUS /ˈfʊtstep/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading It was quite true that a footstep had paused outside the nursery-door.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was quite true that a footstep had paused outside the nursery-door.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Two strange white faces were there instead of Mary’s familiar black one.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
intrudersnounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdərz/
plural of “intruder” — someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was quite true that a footstep had paused outside the nursery-door.
knobnounUS /nɑːb/
a circular rounded projection or protuberance
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
without good reason
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
listlesslyadverbUS /ˈlɪstləsli/
in a listless manner
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
Mary'snounUS /ˈmeriz/
possessive form of “mary” — the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Two strange white faces were there instead of Mary’s familiar black one.
a particular point in time
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The nurse had not returned.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
nursery-door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was quite true that a footstep had paused outside the nursery-door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Two strange white faces were there instead of Mary’s familiar black one.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading It was quite true that a footstep had paused outside the nursery-door.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading It was quite true that a footstep had paused outside the nursery-door.
pillownounUS /ˈpɪloʊ/
a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It was quite true that a footstep had paused outside the nursery-door.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The nurse had not returned.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
sprungverbUS /sprʌŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Two strange white faces were there instead of Mary’s familiar black one.
required or under orders
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was quite true that a footstep had paused outside the nursery-door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was quite true that a footstep had paused outside the nursery-door.
TheanounUS /ˈθiːə/
(Greek mythology) the Titaness who was mother of Helios and Selene and Eos in ancient mythology
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
Thea's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Two strange white faces were there instead of Mary’s familiar black one.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading It was quite true that a footstep had paused outside the nursery-door.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was quite true that a footstep had paused outside the nursery-door.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two strange white faces were there instead of Mary’s familiar black one.
a Caucasian
From this reading Two strange white faces were there instead of Mary’s familiar black one.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Thea turned her face listlessly a moment on the pillow and stared at the intruders, then sprung to her feet with a startled cry.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Thea’s quick ear had detected it, and she waited eagerly for the entrance of the nurse, as she supposed it to be, but a hand turned the knob, and as the door swung lightly ajar two women crossed the threshold and advanced into the room.
