used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A GLEAM OF LIGHT.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to such interviews, and said in a low tone:
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Evidently she was expected, for a light was burning softly and Olive sat near it with a book in her hand, in an attitude of waiting.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Passing Claire's door, she paused before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's bed-chamber.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Passing Claire's door, she paused before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's bed-chamber.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to such interviews, and said in a low tone:
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to such interviews, and said in a low tone:
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading Evidently she was expected, for a light was burning softly and Olive sat near it with a book in her hand, in an attitude of waiting.
bed-chamber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Passing Claire's door, she paused before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's bed-chamber.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Passing Claire's door, she paused before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's bed-chamber.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading Evidently she was expected, for a light was burning softly and Olive sat near it with a book in her hand, in an attitude of waiting.
the act of burning something
From this reading Evidently she was expected, for a light was burning softly and Olive sat near it with a book in her hand, in an attitude of waiting.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
carpetedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːrpətɪd/
covered with or as if with carpeting or with carpeting as specified; often used in combination
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
Claire's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Evidently she was expected, for a light was burning softly and Olive sat near it with a book in her hand, in an attitude of waiting.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Evidently she was expected, for a light was burning softly and Olive sat near it with a book in her hand, in an attitude of waiting.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Passing Claire's door, she paused before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's bed-chamber.
Girard's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Passing Claire's door, she paused before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's bed-chamber.
GLEAMverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading A GLEAM OF LIGHT.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Evidently she was expected, for a light was burning softly and Olive sat near it with a book in her hand, in an attitude of waiting.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to such interviews, and said in a low tone:
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to such interviews, and said in a low tone:
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Passing Claire's door, she paused before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's bed-chamber.
interviewsnounUS /ˈɪntərvjuːz/
plural of “interview” — the questioning of a person (or a conversation in which information is elicited); often conducted by journalists
From this reading Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to such interviews, and said in a low tone:
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Passing Claire's door, she paused before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's bed-chamber.
immediately past
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A GLEAM OF LIGHT.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to such interviews, and said in a low tone:
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to such interviews, and said in a low tone:
Madeline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Evidently she was expected, for a light was burning softly and Olive sat near it with a book in her hand, in an attitude of waiting.
not any; not one
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A GLEAM OF LIGHT.
OliveadjectiveUS /ˈɑːləv/
of a yellow-green color similar to that of an unripe olive
From this reading Passing Claire's door, she paused before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's bed-chamber.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Passing Claire's door, she paused before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's bed-chamber.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading Passing Claire's door, she paused before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's bed-chamber.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Passing Claire's door, she paused before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's bed-chamber.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to such interviews, and said in a low tone:
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to such interviews, and said in a low tone:
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Evidently she was expected, for a light was burning softly and Olive sat near it with a book in her hand, in an attitude of waiting.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to such interviews, and said in a low tone:
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Passing Claire's door, she paused before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's bed-chamber.
slipperedadjective
shod with slippers
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
with low volume
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Passing Claire's door, she paused before another, opened it gently, and stood in Olive Girard's bed-chamber.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to such interviews, and said in a low tone:
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to such interviews, and said in a low tone:
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A few moments after Claire's door had closed for the last time, Madeline came cautiously from her room, her slippered feet making no sound on the softly carpeted floor.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to such interviews, and said in a low tone:
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading Madeline seated herself at the little table as if quite accustomed to such interviews, and said in a low tone:
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Evidently she was expected, for a light was burning softly and Olive sat near it with a book in her hand, in an attitude of waiting.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Evidently she was expected, for a light was burning softly and Olive sat near it with a book in her hand, in an attitude of waiting.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Evidently she was expected, for a light was burning softly and Olive sat near it with a book in her hand, in an attitude of waiting.
