used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a brief colloquy in whispers with the new arrival, he stepped back and threw open the door.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
areanounUS /ˈeriə/
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
From this reading She stepped into the area of flickering light provided by the dim gas jet and, loosing her cloak, threw back the hood.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading After a brief colloquy in whispers with the new arrival, he stepped back and threw open the door.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
ASSASSINATIONnounUS /əˌsæsəˈneɪʃən/
an attack intended to ruin someone's reputation
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading After a brief colloquy in whispers with the new arrival, he stepped back and threw open the door.
of short duration or distance
From this reading After a brief colloquy in whispers with the new arrival, he stepped back and threw open the door.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
anything that covers or conceals
From this reading Came a woman, muffled up so securely in a cloak that nothing of her face and form was visible.
colloquynounUS /ˈkɑːləkwi/
a conversation especially a formal one
From this reading After a brief colloquy in whispers with the new arrival, he stepped back and threw open the door.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading She stepped into the area of flickering light provided by the dim gas jet and, loosing her cloak, threw back the hood.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Came a woman, muffled up so securely in a cloak that nothing of her face and form was visible.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
flickeringadjectiveUS /ˈflɪkərɪŋ/
shining unsteadily
From this reading She stepped into the area of flickering light provided by the dim gas jet and, loosing her cloak, threw back the hood.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Came a woman, muffled up so securely in a cloak that nothing of her face and form was visible.
gasnounUS /ɡæs/
the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity
From this reading She stepped into the area of flickering light provided by the dim gas jet and, loosing her cloak, threw back the hood.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After a brief colloquy in whispers with the new arrival, he stepped back and threw open the door.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Came a woman, muffled up so securely in a cloak that nothing of her face and form was visible.
hoodnounUS /hʊd/
an aggressive and violent young criminal
From this reading She stepped into the area of flickering light provided by the dim gas jet and, loosing her cloak, threw back the hood.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
jetnounUS /dʒet/
an airplane powered by one or more jet engines
From this reading She stepped into the area of flickering light provided by the dim gas jet and, loosing her cloak, threw back the hood.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She stepped into the area of flickering light provided by the dim gas jet and, loosing her cloak, threw back the hood.
loosingverbUS /ˈluːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “loose” — grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading She stepped into the area of flickering light provided by the dim gas jet and, loosing her cloak, threw back the hood.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading Came a woman, muffled up so securely in a cloak that nothing of her face and form was visible.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading After a brief colloquy in whispers with the new arrival, he stepped back and threw open the door.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Came a woman, muffled up so securely in a cloak that nothing of her face and form was visible.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading After a brief colloquy in whispers with the new arrival, he stepped back and threw open the door.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading She stepped into the area of flickering light provided by the dim gas jet and, loosing her cloak, threw back the hood.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
securelyadverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrli/
in a secure manner; in a manner free from danger
From this reading Came a woman, muffled up so securely in a cloak that nothing of her face and form was visible.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She stepped into the area of flickering light provided by the dim gas jet and, loosing her cloak, threw back the hood.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Came a woman, muffled up so securely in a cloak that nothing of her face and form was visible.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading After a brief colloquy in whispers with the new arrival, he stepped back and threw open the door.
successionnounUS /səkˈseʃən/
a following of one thing after another in time
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
tapsnounUS /tæps/
(military) signal to turn the lights out
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Came a woman, muffled up so securely in a cloak that nothing of her face and form was visible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The officer on guard opened the door a few inches and peered out into the intense gloom of the landing.
in or at that place or location
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading After a brief colloquy in whispers with the new arrival, he stepped back and threw open the door.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION As they spoke, there came a knock, three taps in rapid succession, followed by two slowly.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Came a woman, muffled up so securely in a cloak that nothing of her face and form was visible.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading Came a woman, muffled up so securely in a cloak that nothing of her face and form was visible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Came a woman, muffled up so securely in a cloak that nothing of her face and form was visible.
whispersnounUS /ˈwɪspərz/
plural of “whisper” — speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading After a brief colloquy in whispers with the new arrival, he stepped back and threw open the door.
in the company of; together with
From this reading After a brief colloquy in whispers with the new arrival, he stepped back and threw open the door.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Came a woman, muffled up so securely in a cloak that nothing of her face and form was visible.
