used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.
From this reading "I have a little matter to attend to in the office," he said, nodding to Harry.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading She came toward him, her breath hurried, her cheek pale.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She came toward him, her breath hurried, her cheek pale.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading She came toward him, her breath hurried, her cheek pale.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
cotnounUS /kɑːt/
a sheath worn to protect a finger
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Jessica!" he exclaimed.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Tom Felder's face was at her shoulder.
Felder's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Felder's face was at her shoulder.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
gratingnounUS /ˈɡreɪtɪŋ/
a barrier that has parallel or crossed bars blocking a passage but admitting air
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I have a little matter to attend to in the office," he said, nodding to Harry.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She came toward him, her breath hurried, her cheek pale.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She came toward him, her breath hurried, her cheek pale.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading She came toward him, her breath hurried, her cheek pale.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I have a little matter to attend to in the office," he said, nodding to Harry.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
jailnounUS /dʒeɪl/
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
Jessica
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Jessica!" he exclaimed.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "I have a little matter to attend to in the office," he said, nodding to Harry.
fasten with a lock
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "I have a little matter to attend to in the office," he said, nodding to Harry.
noddingadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːdɪŋ/
having branches or flower heads that bend downward
From this reading "I have a little matter to attend to in the office," he said, nodding to Harry.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading "I have a little matter to attend to in the office," he said, nodding to Harry.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading She came toward him, her breath hurried, her cheek pale.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I have a little matter to attend to in the office," he said, nodding to Harry.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She came toward him, her breath hurried, her cheek pale.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Tom Felder's face was at her shoulder.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I have a little matter to attend to in the office," he said, nodding to Harry.
male cat
From this reading Tom Felder's face was at her shoulder.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading She came toward him, her breath hurried, her cheek pale.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Tom Felder's face was at her shoulder.
whereon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HAND AT THE DOOR At the sound of steps in the jail corridor and the harsh grating of the key in the lock, Harry rose hastily from the iron cot whereon he had been sitting and took a step forward.
