used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Just then she heard the tread of bare feet in the hall, and a low-mumbled monologue.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading “Lord, my God, pardon me for this last act,” she was praying.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Just then she heard the tread of bare feet in the hall, and a low-mumbled monologue.
avertedverbUS /əˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “avert” — prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
From this reading The old woman's face was averted, and she seemed unaware of her daughter's presence.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
completely unclothed
From this reading Just then she heard the tread of bare feet in the hall, and a low-mumbled monologue.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
daughter'snounUS /ˈdɔːtərz/
possessive form of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading The old woman's face was averted, and she seemed unaware of her daughter's presence.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
double-barrelledadjective
having two barrels mounted side by side
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
put on clothes
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The old woman's face was averted, and she seemed unaware of her daughter's presence.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Just then she heard the tread of bare feet in the hall, and a low-mumbled monologue.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Her heart stood still, for she recognized her mother's voice.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading “Lord, my God, pardon me for this last act,” she was praying.
the act of departing
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Just then she heard the tread of bare feet in the hall, and a low-mumbled monologue.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Just then she heard the tread of bare feet in the hall, and a low-mumbled monologue.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Her heart stood still, for she recognized her mother's voice.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her heart stood still, for she recognized her mother's voice.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Just then she heard the tread of bare feet in the hall, and a low-mumbled monologue.
and nothing more
From this reading Just then she heard the tread of bare feet in the hall, and a low-mumbled monologue.
immediately past
From this reading “Lord, my God, pardon me for this last act,” she was praying.
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 Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading “Lord, my God, pardon me for this last act,” she was praying.
low-mumbled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just then she heard the tread of bare feet in the hall, and a low-mumbled monologue.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Lord, my God, pardon me for this last act,” she was praying.
monologuenounUS /ˈmɑːnəlɔːɡ/
speech you make to yourself
From this reading Just then she heard the tread of bare feet in the hall, and a low-mumbled monologue.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Her heart stood still, for she recognized her mother's voice.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Lord, my God, pardon me for this last act,” she was praying.
Nathan's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Just then she heard the tread of bare feet in the hall, and a low-mumbled monologue.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old woman's face was averted, and she seemed unaware of her daughter's presence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
accept an excuse for
From this reading “Lord, my God, pardon me for this last act,” she was praying.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
PorternounUS /ˈpɔːrtər/
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
prayingverbUS /ˈpreɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading “Lord, my God, pardon me for this last act,” she was praying.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading The old woman's face was averted, and she seemed unaware of her daughter's presence.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Her heart stood still, for she recognized her mother's voice.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The old woman's face was averted, and she seemed unaware of her daughter's presence.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Just then she heard the tread of bare feet in the hall, and a low-mumbled monologue.
shot-gun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
with low volume
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
not in physical motion
From this reading Her heart stood still, for she recognized her mother's voice.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Her heart stood still, for she recognized her mother's voice.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Just then she heard the tread of bare feet in the hall, and a low-mumbled monologue.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Just then she heard the tread of bare feet in the hall, and a low-mumbled monologue.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Lord, my God, pardon me for this last act,” she was praying.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
treadverbUS /tred/
put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading Just then she heard the tread of bare feet in the hall, and a low-mumbled monologue.
unawareadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈwer/
(often followed by “of”) not aware
From this reading The old woman's face was averted, and she seemed unaware of her daughter's presence.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Her heart stood still, for she recognized her mother's voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The old woman's face was averted, and she seemed unaware of her daughter's presence.
a Caucasian
From this reading Going softly to the door, she peered out, and there, in a thin, white dress, stood Mrs. Porter, Nathan's double-barrelled shot-gun clutched in her hand, her long hair hanging loose on her back.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The old woman's face was averted, and she seemed unaware of her daughter's presence.
