used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
authoritativeadjectiveUS /əˈθɔːrəteɪtɪv/
having authority or ascendancy or influence
From this reading Mrs. Richards demanded, in a low but authoritative tone.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mrs. Richards demanded, in a low but authoritative tone.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
dancing-hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading Mrs. Richards demanded, in a low but authoritative tone.
without deviation
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What does this mean?”
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
every person
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading “Stella Gladstone, how is it that I find you here?
GladstonenounUS /ˈɡlædstoʊn/
liberal British statesman who served as prime minister four times (1809-1898)
From this reading “Stella Gladstone, how is it that I find you here?
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “Stella Gladstone, how is it that I find you here?
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Stella Gladstone, how is it that I find you here?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Stella Gladstone, how is it that I find you here?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Stella Gladstone, how is it that I find you here?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Stella Gladstone, how is it that I find you here?
and nothing more
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Mrs. Richards demanded, in a low but authoritative tone.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading “What does this mean?”
a particular point in time
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
not any; not one
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
parlorsnounUS /ˈpɑːrlərz/
plural of “parlor” — reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
a course of conduct
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
RichardsnounUS /ˈrɪtʃərdz/
English literary critic who collaborated with C. K. Ogden and contributed to the development of Basic English (1893-1979)
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
StellanounUS /ˈstelə/
United States minimalist painter (born in 1936)
From this reading “Stella Gladstone, how is it that I find you here?
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “What does this mean?”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading Mrs. Richards demanded, in a low but authoritative tone.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
transpiredverbUS /trænˈspaɪərd/
past form of “transpire” — pass through the tissue or substance or its pores or interstices, as of gas
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
the topmost one of two
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
at the time that
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading When they were within a few feet of the upper door, Mrs. Richards stepped toward them and stood directly in their path.
someone who sees an event and reports what happened
From this reading The hall was nearly empty, almost everybody being in the parlors or the dancing-hall, so there was no one by just at that moment to witness what transpired.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Stella Gladstone, how is it that I find you here?
