used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading A heavy weight at once was flung against it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
antagonistnounUS /ænˈtæɡənəst/
someone who offers opposition
From this reading No doubt he stood where she had left him, at the other side of the table, confronting his antagonist.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading No doubt he stood where she had left him, at the other side of the table, confronting his antagonist.
confrontingverbUS /kənˈfrʌntɪŋ/
-ing form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading No doubt he stood where she had left him, at the other side of the table, confronting his antagonist.
continuousadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/
continuing in time or space without interruption
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
deep-toned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
demonstrationnounUS /ˌdemənˈstreɪʃən/
a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Gregory's voice she did not hear.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Mrs. Talcott turned the knob of the door and slightly pushed it.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading No doubt he stood where she had left him, at the other side of the table, confronting his antagonist.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading A heavy weight at once was flung against it.
Gregory'snounUS /ˈɡreɡəriz/
possessive form of “gregory” — (Roman Catholic Church) a church father known for his constant fight against perceived heresies; a saint and Doctor of the Church (329-391)
From this reading Gregory's voice she did not hear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No doubt he stood where she had left him, at the other side of the table, confronting his antagonist.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No doubt he stood where she had left him, at the other side of the table, confronting his antagonist.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Gregory's voice she did not hear.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading A heavy weight at once was flung against it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading No doubt he stood where she had left him, at the other side of the table, confronting his antagonist.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading No doubt he stood where she had left him, at the other side of the table, confronting his antagonist.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Talcott turned the knob of the door and slightly pushed it.
knobnounUS /nɑːb/
a circular rounded projection or protuberance
From this reading Mrs. Talcott turned the knob of the door and slightly pushed it.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading No doubt he stood where she had left him, at the other side of the table, confronting his antagonist.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
Mercedes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
not any; not one
From this reading No doubt he stood where she had left him, at the other side of the table, confronting his antagonist.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Gregory's voice she did not hear.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
on one occasion
From this reading A heavy weight at once was flung against it.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading No doubt he stood where she had left him, at the other side of the table, confronting his antagonist.
having or expressing strong emotions
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
pleadingnounUS /ˈpliːdɪŋ/
(law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
protestnounUS /ˈproʊtest/
a formal and solemn declaration of objection
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading Mrs. Talcott turned the knob of the door and slightly pushed it.
move by turning over or rotating
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading No doubt he stood where she had left him, at the other side of the table, confronting his antagonist.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Mrs. Talcott turned the knob of the door and slightly pushed it.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading No doubt he stood where she had left him, at the other side of the table, confronting his antagonist.
subtleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌtəl/
difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading No doubt he stood where she had left him, at the other side of the table, confronting his antagonist.
Talcott
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
threatnounUS /θret/
something that is a source of danger
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Mrs. Talcott turned the knob of the door and slightly pushed it.
vehementadjectiveUS /ˈviːəmənt/
marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions; inclined to react violently; fervid
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Mrs. Talcott, as she descended the staircase, heard in the little sitting-room a voice, the voice of Mercedes, speaking on and on, in a deep-toned, continuous roll of vehement demonstration, passionate protest, subtle threat and pleading.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A heavy weight at once was flung against it.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading A heavy weight at once was flung against it.
in or at the place that
From this reading No doubt he stood where she had left him, at the other side of the table, confronting his antagonist.
