used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
assistantsnounUS /əˈsɪstənts/
plural of “assistant” — a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
beastlyadjectiveUS /ˈbiːstliː/
(informal) very unpleasant
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
BLACKMAILER'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLACKMAILER’S SUPREME HAUL.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
CarternounUS /ˈkɑːrtər/
Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
Ernest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
eternitynounUS /ɪˈtɜːrnəti/
time without end
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
divisible by two
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
opinion or judgment
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
Gordon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had he locked it?
HAULverbUS /hɔːl/
draw slowly or heavily
From this reading THE BLACKMAILER’S SUPREME HAUL.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had he locked it?
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
interruptionnounUS /ˌɪntərˈʌpʃən/
an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Had he locked it?
and nothing more
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading Had he locked it?
mischancenoun
an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?
petrifiedverbUS /ˈpetrəfaɪd/
inflected form of “petrify” — cause to become stonelike or stiff or dazed and stunned from fright
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
SupposingverbUS /səˈpoʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “suppose” — express a supposition
From this reading Supposing it were Carter himself, or one of his assistants?
SUPREMEadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/
final or last in your life or progress
From this reading THE BLACKMAILER’S SUPREME HAUL.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BLACKMAILER’S SUPREME HAUL.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Of course he had, but he could not be sure of it at that moment, and, even if it were locked, what beastly mischance had brought an interruption just then?
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading For a moment that seemed an eternity, Ernest Gordon crouched as if petrified, his eyes turned wildly to the door.
