used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
acted upon; influenced
From this reading Nor was it her eyes only that were unpleasantly affected.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bess knocked twice, and, stooping to the keyhole, repeated the owl’s hoot.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The two slid in, Bess pushing Henrietta before her.
Bess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bess knocked twice, and, stooping to the keyhole, repeated the owl’s hoot.
bewilderedadjectiveUS /bɪˈwɪldərd/
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading The moment she had passed the threshold Henrietta stood, dazzled by the light and bewildered by what she saw.
of short duration or distance
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The moment she had passed the threshold Henrietta stood, dazzled by the light and bewildered by what she saw.
dazzledadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəld/
having vision overcome temporarily by or as if by intense light
From this reading The moment she had passed the threshold Henrietta stood, dazzled by the light and bewildered by what she saw.
devoteverbUS /dɪˈvoʊt/
give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Nor was it her eyes only that were unpleasantly affected.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The moment she had passed the threshold Henrietta stood, dazzled by the light and bewildered by what she saw.
Henrietta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two slid in, Bess pushing Henrietta before her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The two slid in, Bess pushing Henrietta before her.
hootnounUS /huːt/
a loud raucous cry (as of an owl)
From this reading Bess knocked twice, and, stooping to the keyhole, repeated the owl’s hoot.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The two slid in, Bess pushing Henrietta before her.
intervalnounUS /ˈɪntərvəl/
a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Nor was it her eyes only that were unpleasantly affected.
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 Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
keyholenounUS /ˈkiːhoʊl/
the hole where a key is inserted
From this reading Bess knocked twice, and, stooping to the keyhole, repeated the owl’s hoot.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading Bess knocked twice, and, stooping to the keyhole, repeated the owl’s hoot.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The moment she had passed the threshold Henrietta stood, dazzled by the light and bewildered by what she saw.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
a particular point in time
From this reading The moment she had passed the threshold Henrietta stood, dazzled by the light and bewildered by what she saw.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor was it her eyes only that were unpleasantly affected.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
and nothing more
From this reading Nor was it her eyes only that were unpleasantly affected.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
owl's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bess knocked twice, and, stooping to the keyhole, repeated the owl’s hoot.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The moment she had passed the threshold Henrietta stood, dazzled by the light and bewildered by what she saw.
a human being
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
in the near future
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
pushingnounUS /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/
the act of applying force in order to move something away
From this reading The two slid in, Bess pushing Henrietta before her.
recurring again and again
From this reading Bess knocked twice, and, stooping to the keyhole, repeated the owl’s hoot.
cut with a saw
From this reading The moment she had passed the threshold Henrietta stood, dazzled by the light and bewildered by what she saw.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The moment she had passed the threshold Henrietta stood, dazzled by the light and bewildered by what she saw.
slidverbUS /slɪd/
inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading The two slid in, Bess pushing Henrietta before her.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The moment she had passed the threshold Henrietta stood, dazzled by the light and bewildered by what she saw.
stoopingadjectiveUS /ˈstuːpɪŋ/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading Bess knocked twice, and, stooping to the keyhole, repeated the owl’s hoot.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Nor was it her eyes only that were unpleasantly affected.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bess knocked twice, and, stooping to the keyhole, repeated the owl’s hoot.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading The moment she had passed the threshold Henrietta stood, dazzled by the light and bewildered by what she saw.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bess knocked twice, and, stooping to the keyhole, repeated the owl’s hoot.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
two times
From this reading Bess knocked twice, and, stooping to the keyhole, repeated the owl’s hoot.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two slid in, Bess pushing Henrietta before her.
unpleasantlyadverbUS /ənˈplezəntli/
in an unpleasant manner
From this reading Nor was it her eyes only that were unpleasantly affected.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Nor was it her eyes only that were unpleasantly affected.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The moment she had passed the threshold Henrietta stood, dazzled by the light and bewildered by what she saw.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Presently a bar was drawn back, and after a brief interval, which those within appeared to devote to listening, the key was turned, and the door was opened far enough to admit one person at a time.
