used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She opened her door softly; not a sound reached her ear as she crept down the stair.
(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 She held her breath and listened, but all was still.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She opened her door softly; not a sound reached her ear as she crept down the stair.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading She held her breath and listened, but all was still.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was hard indeed to go and leave James thus in danger, but she had no choice!
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading It was hard indeed to go and leave James thus in danger, but she had no choice!
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading She opened her door softly; not a sound reached her ear as she crept down the stair.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading It was hard indeed to go and leave James thus in danger, but she had no choice!
the first light of day
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She opened her door softly; not a sound reached her ear as she crept down the stair.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She opened her door softly; not a sound reached her ear as she crept down the stair.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading She opened her door softly; not a sound reached her ear as she crept down the stair.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading She had neither to unlock nor unbolt the door to leave the house, for it was never made fast.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had neither to unlock nor unbolt the door to leave the house, for it was never made fast.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It was hard indeed to go and leave James thus in danger, but she had no choice!
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was hard indeed to go and leave James thus in danger, but she had no choice!
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It was hard indeed to go and leave James thus in danger, but she had no choice!
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading She held her breath and listened, but all was still.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She held her breath and listened, but all was still.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading It was hard indeed to go and leave James thus in danger, but she had no choice!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was hard indeed to go and leave James thus in danger, but she had no choice!
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading It was hard indeed to go and leave James thus in danger, but she had no choice!
go away from a place
From this reading It was hard indeed to go and leave James thus in danger, but she had no choice!
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading She held her breath and listened, but all was still.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She had neither to unlock nor unbolt the door to leave the house, for it was never made fast.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading She had neither to unlock nor unbolt the door to leave the house, for it was never made fast.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She had neither to unlock nor unbolt the door to leave the house, for it was never made fast.
not any; not one
From this reading It was hard indeed to go and leave James thus in danger, but she had no choice!
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading She had neither to unlock nor unbolt the door to leave the house, for it was never made fast.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She opened her door softly; not a sound reached her ear as she crept down the stair.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
on one occasion
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading She opened her door softly; not a sound reached her ear as she crept down the stair.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading She opened her door softly; not a sound reached her ear as she crept down the stair.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
with low volume
From this reading She opened her door softly; not a sound reached her ear as she crept down the stair.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading She opened her door softly; not a sound reached her ear as she crept down the stair.
soundlessadjective
marked by absence of sound
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading She opened her door softly; not a sound reached her ear as she crept down the stair.
not in physical motion
From this reading She held her breath and listened, but all was still.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading It was hard indeed to go and leave James thus in danger, but she had no choice!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was hard indeed to go and leave James thus in danger, but she had no choice!
unboltverbUS /ˈʌnboʊlt/
undo the bolt of
From this reading She had neither to unlock nor unbolt the door to leave the house, for it was never made fast.
unlockverbUS /ənˈlɑːk/
open the lock of
From this reading She had neither to unlock nor unbolt the door to leave the house, for it was never made fast.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading She woke in the first of the gray dawn, while the house was in utter stillness, and rising at once, rose and dressed herself with soundless haste.
