Chapter IV · The Inside of Gloomy House

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading And how could she go back and face the cooking class if, after all her planning, she was a coward now?

filled with fear or apprehension

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

later than; following

From this reading And how could she go back and face the cooking class if, after all her planning, she was a coward now?

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading And how could she go back and face the cooking class if, after all her planning, she was a coward now?

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading “Walk on, walk on,” she whispered to herself, for she knew that if she hesitated for an instant she would run.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

moving or going or growing upward

From this reading So mechanically she walked on, and at last she found herself really ascending the creaking steps.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading So mechanically she walked on, and at last she found herself really ascending the creaking steps.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading And how could she go back and face the cooking class if, after all her planning, she was a coward now?

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading And how could she go back and face the cooking class if, after all her planning, she was a coward now?

the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat

From this reading And how could she go back and face the cooking class if, after all her planning, she was a coward now?

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading And how could she go back and face the cooking class if, after all her planning, she was a coward now?

a person who shows fear or timidity

From this reading And how could she go back and face the cooking class if, after all her planning, she was a coward now?

a squeaking sound

From this reading So mechanically she walked on, and at last she found herself really ascending the creaking steps.

past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading And how could she go back and face the cooking class if, after all her planning, she was a coward now?

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Walk on, walk on,” she whispered to herself, for she knew that if she hesitated for an instant she would run.

set up or found

From this reading So mechanically she walked on, and at last she found herself really ascending the creaking steps.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

depressingly dark

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading And how could she go back and face the cooking class if, after all her planning, she was a coward now?

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Walk on, walk on,” she whispered to herself, for she knew that if she hesitated for an instant she would run.

past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

From this reading “Walk on, walk on,” she whispered to herself, for she knew that if she hesitated for an instant she would run.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And how could she go back and face the cooking class if, after all her planning, she was a coward now?

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading “Walk on, walk on,” she whispered to herself, for she knew that if she hesitated for an instant she would run.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading “Walk on, walk on,” she whispered to herself, for she knew that if she hesitated for an instant she would run.

immediately past

From this reading So mechanically she walked on, and at last she found herself really ascending the creaking steps.

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism

From this reading So mechanically she walked on, and at last she found herself really ascending the creaking steps.

past form of “near” — move towards

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

not any; not one

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading And how could she go back and face the cooking class if, after all her planning, she was a coward now?

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “Walk on, walk on,” she whispered to herself, for she knew that if she hesitated for an instant she would run.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

above your head; in the sky

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

by chance

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

an act of formulating a program for a definite course of action

From this reading And how could she go back and face the cooking class if, after all her planning, she was a coward now?

repeated heavy blows

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading So mechanically she walked on, and at last she found herself really ascending the creaking steps.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading “Walk on, walk on,” she whispered to herself, for she knew that if she hesitated for an instant she would run.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

a descent as through liquid (especially through water)

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So mechanically she walked on, and at last she found herself really ascending the creaking steps.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading So mechanically she walked on, and at last she found herself really ascending the creaking steps.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading So mechanically she walked on, and at last she found herself really ascending the creaking steps.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

covered or soaked with a liquid such as water

From this reading Up the long walk to Gloomy House, her feet sinking in the wet leaves that had fallen from the branches overhead, Peggy went slowly, her heart pounding.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords

From this reading “Walk on, walk on,” she whispered to herself, for she knew that if she hesitated for an instant she would run.

in the company of; together with

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading She was doing what no one else in town would have dared to do, and as she neared the old house, with its tumbled-down step, she began to wonder if perhaps she was afraid.