used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And so it was.
ArrivingverbUS /ərˈaɪvɪŋ/
-ing form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Arriving on the threshold, he raised his boot and drove it like a battering-ram.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
battering-ram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Arriving on the threshold, he raised his boot and drove it like a battering-ram.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
bootnounUS /buːt/
footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading Arriving on the threshold, he raised his boot and drove it like a battering-ram.
boudoirnounUS /ˈbuːdɔɪr/
a lady's bedroom or private sitting room
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
Braddock's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
the act of breaking something
From this reading It sounded like the breaking open of a door.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
ChimpnounUS /tʃɪmp/
intelligent somewhat arboreal ape of equatorial African forests
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
chiselnounUS /ˈtʃɪzəl/
an edge tool with a flat steel blade with a cutting edge
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
crackingnounUS /ˈkrækɪŋ/
a sudden sharp noise
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading It sounded like the breaking open of a door.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading Arriving on the threshold, he raised his boot and drove it like a battering-ram.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
enterprisenounUS /ˈentərpraɪz/
a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
essencenounUS /ˈesəns/
the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
favourableadjective
encouraging or approving or pleasing
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
Hash's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
insinuateverbUS /ˌɪnˈsɪnjuːeɪt/
introduce or insert (oneself) in a subtle manner
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
involvingverbUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlvɪŋ/
-ing form of “involve” — connect closely and often incriminatingly
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It sounded like the breaking open of a door.
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
leisurenounUS /ˈleʒər/
time available for ease and relaxation
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It sounded like the breaking open of a door.
locksnounUS /lɑːks/
plural of “lock” — a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
nigglingadjective
(informal) small and of little importance
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
not any; not one
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It sounded like the breaking open of a door.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It sounded like the breaking open of a door.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Arriving on the threshold, he raised his boot and drove it like a battering-ram.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
snakily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And so it was.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading It sounded like the breaking open of a door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading Arriving on the threshold, he raised his boot and drove it like a battering-ram.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And so it was.
Willoughby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A sharp cracking noise came to Willoughby Braddock’s ears as he halted snakily on the first landing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Chimp, had the conditions been favourable, would have preferred to insinuate himself into Hash’s boudoir in a manner involving less noise; but in this enterprise of his time was of the essence and he had no leisure for niggling at locks with a chisel.
