used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
ajaradjectiveUS /əˈdʒɑːr/
slightly open
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
bronzenounUS /brɑːnz/
an alloy of copper and tin and sometimes other elements; also any copper-base alloy containing other elements in place of tin
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading THE LITTLE BROWN JAP.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
felt-soled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "'Tis one of that felt-soled kind.
fistnounUS /fɪst/
a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading What he heard seemed no more than the tread of a spider, and the thought rushed into his head:
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading What he heard seemed no more than the tread of a spider, and the thought rushed into his head:
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading What he heard seemed no more than the tread of a spider, and the thought rushed into his head:
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
JAPnounUS /dʒæp/
(offensive slang) offensive term for a person of Japanese descent
From this reading THE LITTLE BROWN JAP.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading "'Tis one of that felt-soled kind.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE LITTLE BROWN JAP.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading What he heard seemed no more than the tread of a spider, and the thought rushed into his head:
not any; not one
From this reading What he heard seemed no more than the tread of a spider, and the thought rushed into his head:
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "'Tis one of that felt-soled kind.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
PatrolmannounUS /pəˈtroʊlmæn/
a policeman who patrols a given region
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
Phelan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
done under pressure
From this reading What he heard seemed no more than the tread of a spider, and the thought rushed into his head:
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading What he heard seemed no more than the tread of a spider, and the thought rushed into his head:
sinewyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪnjuːi/
(of meat) full of sinews; especially impossible to chew
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
spidernounUS /ˈspaɪdər/
predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey
From this reading What he heard seemed no more than the tread of a spider, and the thought rushed into his head:
squeezedverbUS /skwiːzd/
past form of “squeeze” — to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading What he heard seemed no more than the tread of a spider, and the thought rushed into his head:
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "'Tis one of that felt-soled kind.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LITTLE BROWN JAP.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading What he heard seemed no more than the tread of a spider, and the thought rushed into his head:
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite
From this reading "'Tis one of that felt-soled kind.
treadverbUS /tred/
put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading What he heard seemed no more than the tread of a spider, and the thought rushed into his head:
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
vestibulenounUS /ˈvestɪbjuːl/
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
viciousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪʃəs/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What he heard seemed no more than the tread of a spider, and the thought rushed into his head:
in the company of; together with
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The heavy bronze door had been left ajar, and he squeezed through without opening it further, then paused in the vestibule and listened.
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading Patrolman Phelan wrapped his sinewy fist about the handle of his club with a vicious grip as he proceeded cautiously up the steps.
