used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Suddenly a portion of the wall moved back and Madge Capperton appeared in the opening.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Suddenly a portion of the wall moved back and Madge Capperton appeared in the opening.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Suddenly a portion of the wall moved back and Madge Capperton appeared in the opening.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading At that instant Bluetherski awoke, leapt out of his bed and grasped her roughly by the arm.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As noiselessly as possible she crept forward and snatched up the despatches.
in a state of sleep
From this reading Raymond Bluetherski lay asleep.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At that instant Bluetherski awoke, leapt out of his bed and grasped her roughly by the arm.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading At that instant Bluetherski awoke, leapt out of his bed and grasped her roughly by the arm.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Suddenly a portion of the wall moved back and Madge Capperton appeared in the opening.
bafflednounUS /ˈbæfəld/
people who are frustrated and perplexed
From this reading He levelled a large revolver at Bluetherski, and the latter threw up his hands with a cry of baffled hate.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading On his dressing-table rested the fatal ball of paper.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In a few seconds she would be safe!
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading At that instant Bluetherski awoke, leapt out of his bed and grasped her roughly by the arm.
Bluetherski
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Raymond Bluetherski lay asleep.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he had reckoned without Capperton.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading At that instant Bluetherski awoke, leapt out of his bed and grasped her roughly by the arm.
Capperton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly a portion of the wall moved back and Madge Capperton appeared in the opening.
commandingadjectiveUS /kəˈmændɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading The commanding figure of the detective appeared in the room.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading As noiselessly as possible she crept forward and snatched up the despatches.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading He levelled a large revolver at Bluetherski, and the latter threw up his hands with a cry of baffled hate.
despatches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As noiselessly as possible she crept forward and snatched up the despatches.
detectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading The commanding figure of the detective appeared in the room.
dressing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On his dressing-table rested the fatal ball of paper.
fataladjectiveUS /ˈfeɪtəl/
bringing death
From this reading On his dressing-table rested the fatal ball of paper.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading In a few seconds she would be safe!
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The commanding figure of the detective appeared in the room.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading As noiselessly as possible she crept forward and snatched up the despatches.
graspedverbUS /ɡræspt/
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading At that instant Bluetherski awoke, leapt out of his bed and grasped her roughly by the arm.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But he had reckoned without Capperton.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He levelled a large revolver at Bluetherski, and the latter threw up his hands with a cry of baffled hate.
the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
From this reading He levelled a large revolver at Bluetherski, and the latter threw up his hands with a cry of baffled hate.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he had reckoned without Capperton.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading At that instant Bluetherski awoke, leapt out of his bed and grasped her roughly by the arm.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On his dressing-table rested the fatal ball of paper.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Suddenly a portion of the wall moved back and Madge Capperton appeared in the opening.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading At that instant Bluetherski awoke, leapt out of his bed and grasped her roughly by the arm.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He levelled a large revolver at Bluetherski, and the latter threw up his hands with a cry of baffled hate.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading He levelled a large revolver at Bluetherski, and the latter threw up his hands with a cry of baffled hate.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Raymond Bluetherski lay asleep.
leaptverbUS /lept/
inflected form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading At that instant Bluetherski awoke, leapt out of his bed and grasped her roughly by the arm.
levelledverbUS /ˈlevəld/
inflected form of “level” — aim at
From this reading He levelled a large revolver at Bluetherski, and the latter threw up his hands with a cry of baffled hate.
Madge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly a portion of the wall moved back and Madge Capperton appeared in the opening.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Suddenly a portion of the wall moved back and Madge Capperton appeared in the opening.
noiselesslyadverb
without a sound
From this reading As noiselessly as possible she crept forward and snatched up the despatches.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On his dressing-table rested the fatal ball of paper.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On his dressing-table rested the fatal ball of paper.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Suddenly a portion of the wall moved back and Madge Capperton appeared in the opening.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading At that instant Bluetherski awoke, leapt out of his bed and grasped her roughly by the arm.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading On his dressing-table rested the fatal ball of paper.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Suddenly a portion of the wall moved back and Madge Capperton appeared in the opening.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading As noiselessly as possible she crept forward and snatched up the despatches.
Raymond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Raymond Bluetherski lay asleep.
reckonedverbUS /ˈrekənd/
past form of “reckon” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading But he had reckoned without Capperton.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading On his dressing-table rested the fatal ball of paper.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading He levelled a large revolver at Bluetherski, and the latter threw up his hands with a cry of baffled hate.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The commanding figure of the detective appeared in the room.
roughlyadverbUS /ˈrʌfli/
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
From this reading At that instant Bluetherski awoke, leapt out of his bed and grasped her roughly by the arm.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading In a few seconds she would be safe!
secondsnounUS /ˈsekəndz/
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading In a few seconds she would be safe!
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As noiselessly as possible she crept forward and snatched up the despatches.
snatchedverbUS /snætʃt/
past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading As noiselessly as possible she crept forward and snatched up the despatches.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly a portion of the wall moved back and Madge Capperton appeared in the opening.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At that instant Bluetherski awoke, leapt out of his bed and grasped her roughly by the arm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On his dressing-table rested the fatal ball of paper.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading He levelled a large revolver at Bluetherski, and the latter threw up his hands with a cry of baffled hate.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As noiselessly as possible she crept forward and snatched up the despatches.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Suddenly a portion of the wall moved back and Madge Capperton appeared in the opening.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He levelled a large revolver at Bluetherski, and the latter threw up his hands with a cry of baffled hate.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But he had reckoned without Capperton.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In a few seconds she would be safe!
