used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The hall was as black as a dungeon, but by groping around she found the banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open the heavy door.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading Her resolution was undaunted, but the awful silence of the empty, dark place struck a chill to her heart.
banisternounUS /ˈbænɪstər/
a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling
From this reading The hall was as black as a dungeon, but by groping around she found the banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open the heavy door.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The hall was as black as a dungeon, but by groping around she found the banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.
terminate
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and tried to sing in order to break that oppressive silence.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The hall was as black as a dungeon, but by groping around she found the banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The hall was as black as a dungeon, but by groping around she found the banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading Her resolution was undaunted, but the awful silence of the empty, dark place struck a chill to her heart.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Her resolution was undaunted, but the awful silence of the empty, dark place struck a chill to her heart.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
dungeonnounUS /ˈdʌndʒən/
the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
From this reading The hall was as black as a dungeon, but by groping around she found the banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Her resolution was undaunted, but the awful silence of the empty, dark place struck a chill to her heart.
set up or found
From this reading The hall was as black as a dungeon, but by groping around she found the banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open the heavy door.
gratingnounUS /ˈɡreɪtɪŋ/
a barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air
From this reading It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open the heavy door.
gropingadjectiveUS /ˈɡroʊpɪŋ/
acting with uncertainty or hesitance or lack of confidence
From this reading The hall was as black as a dungeon, but by groping around she found the banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The hall was as black as a dungeon, but by groping around she found the banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open the heavy door.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open the heavy door.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open the heavy door.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
indecision in speech or action
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open the heavy door.
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 A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
immediately past
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open the heavy door.
fasten with a lock
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The hall was as black as a dungeon, but by groping around she found the banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open the heavy door.
oppressiveadjectiveUS /əˈpresɪv/
weighing heavily on the senses or spirit
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and tried to sing in order to break that oppressive silence.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and tried to sing in order to break that oppressive silence.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Her resolution was undaunted, but the awful silence of the empty, dark place struck a chill to her heart.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open the heavy door.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading The hall was as black as a dungeon, but by groping around she found the banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and tried to sing in order to break that oppressive silence.
with speed
From this reading It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open the heavy door.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading Her resolution was undaunted, but the awful silence of the empty, dark place struck a chill to her heart.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
schoolhousenounUS /ˈskuːlhaʊs/
a building where young people receive education
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Her resolution was undaunted, but the awful silence of the empty, dark place struck a chill to her heart.
deliver by singing
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and tried to sing in order to break that oppressive silence.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The hall was as black as a dungeon, but by groping around she found the banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open the heavy door.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and tried to sing in order to break that oppressive silence.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Her resolution was undaunted, but the awful silence of the empty, dark place struck a chill to her heart.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and tried to sing in order to break that oppressive silence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
push forcefully
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her resolution was undaunted, but the awful silence of the empty, dark place struck a chill to her heart.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and tried to sing in order to break that oppressive silence.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open the heavy door.
undauntedadjectiveUS /ənˈdɔːntɪd/
unshaken in purpose
From this reading Her resolution was undaunted, but the awful silence of the empty, dark place struck a chill to her heart.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She ran up the stairs, and tried to sing in order to break that oppressive silence.
on a floor above
From this reading The hall was as black as a dungeon, but by groping around she found the banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The hall was as black as a dungeon, but by groping around she found the banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The hall was as black as a dungeon, but by groping around she found the banister rail, and so made her way upstairs.
at the time that
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It turned with a harsh, grating sound, and the little girl's heart beat rapidly as she pushed open the heavy door.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading A REAL ADVENTURE When at last she stood on the stone steps of the schoolhouse, her courage returned, and, without hesitation, she thrust the key in the lock of the door.
