used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Presently came the mournful hoot of an owl from the live oaks over in the pasture.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading Here she waited, heart in mouth and pulse beating like a trip hammer.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Presently came the mournful hoot of an owl from the live oaks over in the pasture.
put or send forth
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
cucumbernounUS /ˈkjuːkəmbər/
a melon vine of the genus Cucumis; cultivated from earliest times for its cylindrical green fruit
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading The hands indicated five minutes to one.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Presently came the mournful hoot of an owl from the live oaks over in the pasture.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
hammernounUS /ˈhæmər/
the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading Here she waited, heart in mouth and pulse beating like a trip hammer.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The hands indicated five minutes to one.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Here she waited, heart in mouth and pulse beating like a trip hammer.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here she waited, heart in mouth and pulse beating like a trip hammer.
hootnounUS /huːt/
a loud raucous cry (as of an owl)
From this reading Presently came the mournful hoot of an owl from the live oaks over in the pasture.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
indicatedverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtəd/
past form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading The hands indicated five minutes to one.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Here she waited, heart in mouth and pulse beating like a trip hammer.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Presently came the mournful hoot of an owl from the live oaks over in the pasture.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading The hands indicated five minutes to one.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
mournfuladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrnfəl/
expressing sorrow
From this reading Presently came the mournful hoot of an owl from the live oaks over in the pasture.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Here she waited, heart in mouth and pulse beating like a trip hammer.
oaksnounUS /oʊks/
plural of “oak” — the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading Presently came the mournful hoot of an owl from the live oaks over in the pasture.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The hands indicated five minutes to one.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Presently came the mournful hoot of an owl from the live oaks over in the pasture.
owlnounUS /aʊl/
nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading Presently came the mournful hoot of an owl from the live oaks over in the pasture.
pasturenounUS /ˈpæstʃər/
a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
From this reading Presently came the mournful hoot of an owl from the live oaks over in the pasture.
Phyllis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
in the near future
From this reading Presently came the mournful hoot of an owl from the live oaks over in the pasture.
pulsenounUS /pʌls/
(electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)
From this reading Here she waited, heart in mouth and pulse beating like a trip hammer.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
screenedverbUS /skriːnd/
past form of “screen” — test or examine for the presence of disease or infection
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
sixthadjectiveUS /sɪksθ/
coming next after the fifth and just before the seventh in position
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
stockingnounUS /ˈstɑːkɪŋ/
close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
three-quartersnounUS /ˌθriːˈkwɔːrtərz/
three of four equal parts
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The hands indicated five minutes to one.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading Here she waited, heart in mouth and pulse beating like a trip hammer.
vinesnounUS /vaɪnz/
plural of “vine” — a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
From this reading In her stocking feet she stole out of the room, downstairs, and along the porch to the heavy shadows cast by the cucumber vines that screened one end of it.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Here she waited, heart in mouth and pulse beating like a trip hammer.
look attentively
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
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 THE ESCAPE For the sixth time since the three-quarters, Phyllis looked at her watch by the light of a full moon, which shone through the window of her bedroom.
