used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading From somewhere in the house, both above and below stairs, came the sound of laughter and song.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From somewhere in the house, both above and below stairs, came the sound of laughter and song.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading From somewhere in the house, both above and below stairs, came the sound of laughter and song.
next to; at the side of
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
blockingnounUS /ˈblɑːkɪŋ/
the act of obstructing or deflecting someone's movements
From this reading From where she was she could see Peter's broad shoulders blocking the French window which gave on the drawing-room.
the two together, not just one
From this reading From somewhere in the house, both above and below stairs, came the sound of laughter and song.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading From where she was she could see Peter's broad shoulders blocking the French window which gave on the drawing-room.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From somewhere in the house, both above and below stairs, came the sound of laughter and song.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From where she was she could see Peter's broad shoulders blocking the French window which gave on the drawing-room.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From where she was she could see Peter's broad shoulders blocking the French window which gave on the drawing-room.
Elza
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
Elza's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading From where she was she could see Peter's broad shoulders blocking the French window which gave on the drawing-room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From where she was she could see Peter's broad shoulders blocking the French window which gave on the drawing-room.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading From where she was she could see Peter's broad shoulders blocking the French window which gave on the drawing-room.
the act of departing
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
gravelnounUS /ˈɡrævəl/
rock fragments and pebbles
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading From somewhere in the house, both above and below stairs, came the sound of laughter and song.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From somewhere in the house, both above and below stairs, came the sound of laughter and song.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
the sound of laughing
From this reading From somewhere in the house, both above and below stairs, came the sound of laughter and song.
loyaladjectiveUS /ˈlɔɪəl/
steadfast in allegiance or duty
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
a particular point in time
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From somewhere in the house, both above and below stairs, came the sound of laughter and song.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading From where she was she could see Peter's broad shoulders blocking the French window which gave on the drawing-room.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
Peter'snounUS /ˈpiːtərz/
possessive form of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading From where she was she could see Peter's broad shoulders blocking the French window which gave on the drawing-room.
in the near future
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
pryverbUS /praɪ/
to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
RosemarynounUS /ˈroʊzmeri/
widely cultivated for its fragrant grey-green leaves used in cooking and in perfumery
From this reading Rosemary went slowly up the veranda steps.
Identical; not different.
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
secretsnounUS /ˈsiːkrəts/
plural of “secret” — something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading From where she was she could see Peter's broad shoulders blocking the French window which gave on the drawing-room.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading From where she was she could see Peter's broad shoulders blocking the French window which gave on the drawing-room.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Rosemary went slowly up the veranda steps.
in or at or to some place
From this reading From somewhere in the house, both above and below stairs, came the sound of laughter and song.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading From somewhere in the house, both above and below stairs, came the sound of laughter and song.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading From somewhere in the house, both above and below stairs, came the sound of laughter and song.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading From somewhere in the house, both above and below stairs, came the sound of laughter and song.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Rosemary went slowly up the veranda steps.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Rosemary went slowly up the veranda steps.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Rosemary went slowly up the veranda steps.
verandanounUS /vərˈændə/
a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)
From this reading Rosemary went slowly up the veranda steps.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading A moment or two later she heard Elza's footsteps behind her on the gravel walk, and presently Elza was there, going up the veranda steps beside Rosemary.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading From where she was she could see Peter's broad shoulders blocking the French window which gave on the drawing-room.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Rosemary went slowly up the veranda steps.
in or at the place that
From this reading From where she was she could see Peter's broad shoulders blocking the French window which gave on the drawing-room.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading From where she was she could see Peter's broad shoulders blocking the French window which gave on the drawing-room.
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 From where she was she could see Peter's broad shoulders blocking the French window which gave on the drawing-room.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She did not feel that it would be loyal to pry into Elza's secrets, but at the same time she wanted to remain well within call.
