used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading She advanced softly behind the door, where she could distinctly hear all that passed.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading She advanced softly behind the door, where she could distinctly hear all that passed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading DETECTION AND ARREST.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond.
ARRESTverbUS /ərˈest/
take into custody
From this reading DETECTION AND ARREST.
basementnounUS /ˈbeɪsmənt/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading She advanced softly behind the door, where she could distinctly hear all that passed.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond.
carelesslyadverbUS /ˈkerləsli/
without care or concern
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
cautionnounUS /ˈkɑːʃən/
the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She advanced softly behind the door, where she could distinctly hear all that passed.
descendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
DETECTIONnounUS /dɪˈtekʃən/
the perception that something has occurred or some state exists
From this reading DETECTION AND ARREST.
disputeverbUS /dɪsˈpjuːt/
take exception to
From this reading The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading She advanced softly behind the door, where she could distinctly hear all that passed.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She advanced softly behind the door, where she could distinctly hear all that passed.
forksnounUS /fɔːrks/
plural of “fork” — cutlery used for serving and eating food
From this reading "I'll take my oath I gave you three forks and two spoons the last time you came.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "I'll take my oath I gave you three forks and two spoons the last time you came.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading She advanced softly behind the door, where she could distinctly hear all that passed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I'll take my oath I gave you three forks and two spoons the last time you came.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'll take my oath I gave you three forks and two spoons the last time you came.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond.
immediately past
From this reading "I'll take my oath I gave you three forks and two spoons the last time you came.
LovellnounUS /ˈlʌvəl/
English astronomer who pioneered radio astronomy (born in 1913)
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I'll take my oath I gave you three forks and two spoons the last time you came.
nephewnounUS /ˈnefjuː/
a son of your brother or sister
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
oathnounUS /oʊθ/
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading "I'll take my oath I gave you three forks and two spoons the last time you came.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond.
pantrynounUS /ˈpæntri/
a small storeroom for storing foods or wines
From this reading The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading She advanced softly behind the door, where she could distinctly hear all that passed.
on the contrary
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She advanced softly behind the door, where she could distinctly hear all that passed.
with low volume
From this reading She advanced softly behind the door, where she could distinctly hear all that passed.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond.
spoonsnounUS /spuːnz/
plural of “spoon” — a piece of cutlery with a shallow bowl-shaped container and a handle; used to stir or serve or take up food
From this reading "I'll take my oath I gave you three forks and two spoons the last time you came.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
carry out
From this reading "I'll take my oath I gave you three forks and two spoons the last time you came.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She advanced softly behind the door, where she could distinctly hear all that passed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading "I'll take my oath I gave you three forks and two spoons the last time you came.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "I'll take my oath I gave you three forks and two spoons the last time you came.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "I'll take my oath I gave you three forks and two spoons the last time you came.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
vacantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪkənt/
void of intelligence or thought
From this reading The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The kitchen was vacant, but a sound of voices in angry dispute came from the pantry beyond.
in or at the place that
From this reading She advanced softly behind the door, where she could distinctly hear all that passed.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THEY parted, Mrs. Lovell with rather more caution than usual descending the stairs to the basement, while her nephew returned carelessly to the parlor.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I'll take my oath I gave you three forks and two spoons the last time you came.
