used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
anew
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading "You are alone, Jacqueline?"
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
appartement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are alone, Jacqueline?"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
carsnounUS /kɑːrz/
plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
Cartel'snounUS /kɑːrˈtelz/
possessive form of “cartel” — a consortium of independent organizations formed to limit competition by controlling the production and distribution of a product or service
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
comprehendingverbUS /ˌkɑːmprɪˈhendɪŋ/
-ing form of “comprehend” — get the meaning of something
From this reading Jacqueline nodded quickly, comprehending a crisis.
cool-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/
an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
From this reading Jacqueline nodded quickly, comprehending a crisis.
dauntedadjectiveUS /ˈdɔːntɪd/
caused to show discomposure
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
fifthnounUS /fɪfθ/
a quantity of liquor equal to one fifth of a United States gallon
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
an instinctive motive
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
instant's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
Jacqueline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
MaxnounUS /mæks/
street names for gamma hydroxybutyrate
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
mountingnounUS /ˈmaʊntɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading Jacqueline nodded quickly, comprehending a crisis.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
on one occasion
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
ovennounUS /ˈʌvən/
kitchen appliance used for baking or roasting
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
with speed
From this reading Jacqueline nodded quickly, comprehending a crisis.
racedverbUS /reɪst/
past form of “race” — move hurridly
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
move hurridly
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
done under pressure
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
tyrannynounUS /ˈtɪrəni/
a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
veinsnounUS /veɪnz/
plural of “vein” — a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
From this reading Max was once again a prey to impulse, and under the familiar tyranny, his blood burned--raced in his veins, sang in his cars.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The fifth floor was dim and silent, the door of M. Cartel's _appartement_ was closed; but Max, mounting the stairs two steps at a time, was not daunted by silence or lack of light.
at the time that
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
wontnounUS /woʊnt/
an established custom
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Without an instant's pause, he knocked on M. Cartel's door, and when his knock was answered by Jacqueline--fair and cool-looking, oven in the great heat--words rushed from him as they had been wont to rush when life was a gay affair.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are alone, Jacqueline?"