used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was mid-afternoon of a cloudy day in early autumn.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
(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 All names, characters, places, and events in this story are entirely fictitious.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All names, characters, places, and events in this story are entirely fictitious.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All names, characters, places, and events in this story are entirely fictitious.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading It was mid-afternoon of a cloudy day in early autumn.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
a flexible container with a single opening
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
buttonnounUS /ˈbʌtən/
a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
buttonsnounUS /ˈbʌtənz/
plural of “button” — a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading All names, characters, places, and events in this story are entirely fictitious.
closetnounUS /ˈklɑːzət/
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
cloudyadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdi/
lacking definite form or limits
From this reading It was mid-afternoon of a cloudy day in early autumn.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was mid-afternoon of a cloudy day in early autumn.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Sally Scott glided to the one wide window in her room and pulled down the shade.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading It was mid-afternoon of a cloudy day in early autumn.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading All names, characters, places, and events in this story are entirely fictitious.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading All names, characters, places, and events in this story are entirely fictitious.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
fictitiousadjectiveUS /fɪkˈtɪʃəs/
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading All names, characters, places, and events in this story are entirely fictitious.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
glidedverbUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/
past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading Sally Scott glided to the one wide window in her room and pulled down the shade.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Sally Scott glided to the one wide window in her room and pulled down the shade.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All names, characters, places, and events in this story are entirely fictitious.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was mid-afternoon of a cloudy day in early autumn.
mid-afternoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was mid-afternoon of a cloudy day in early autumn.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading All names, characters, places, and events in this story are entirely fictitious.
neatadjectiveUS /niːt/
clean or organized
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
oblongadjectiveUS /ˈɑːblɔːŋ/
(of a leaf shape) having a somewhat elongated form with approximately parallel sides
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was mid-afternoon of a cloudy day in early autumn.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Sally Scott glided to the one wide window in her room and pulled down the shade.
overnightadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈnaɪt/
during or for the length of one night
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading All names, characters, places, and events in this story are entirely fictitious.
placingverbUS /ˈpleɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “place” — put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
compacted by ironing
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading Sally Scott glided to the one wide window in her room and pulled down the shade.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Sally Scott glided to the one wide window in her room and pulled down the shade.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
witty remark
From this reading Sally Scott glided to the one wide window in her room and pulled down the shade.
ScottnounUS /skɑːt/
award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)
From this reading Sally Scott glided to the one wide window in her room and pulled down the shade.
secrecynounUS /ˈsiːkrəsi/
the trait of keeping things secret
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading Sally Scott glided to the one wide window in her room and pulled down the shade.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading All names, characters, places, and events in this story are entirely fictitious.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
switchesnounUS /ˈswɪtʃəz/
plural of “switch” — control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading After placing this with some care on her study table, she pressed a button, and caught the broad side of the box, that, falling away, revealed a neat row of buttons and switches.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sally Scott glided to the one wide window in her room and pulled down the shade.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading All names, characters, places, and events in this story are entirely fictitious.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sally Scott glided to the one wide window in her room and pulled down the shade.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
unlikeadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪk/
marked by dissimilarity
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was mid-afternoon of a cloudy day in early autumn.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Sally Scott glided to the one wide window in her room and pulled down the shade.
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 Sally Scott glided to the one wide window in her room and pulled down the shade.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then, with movements that somehow suggested deep secrecy, she took an oblong, black box, not unlike an overnight bag, from the closet.
