adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
advancedadjectiveUS /ədˈvænst/
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
attitudenounUS /ˈætətuːd/
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The spasm went as suddenly as it came,--Mr Holt became as motionless as he had just now been the other way.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The spasm went as suddenly as it came,--Mr Holt became as motionless as he had just now been the other way.
BEHAVIOURnounUS /bɪˈheɪvjər/
the action or reaction of something (as a machine or substance) under specified circumstances
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The spasm went as suddenly as it came,--Mr Holt became as motionless as he had just now been the other way.
chinnounUS /tʃɪn/
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
convulsionnounUS /kənˈvʌlʃən/
a sudden uncontrollable attack
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
doorwaynounUS /ˈdɔːrweɪ/
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdredfəl/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
expectancynounUS /ɪkˈspektənsi/
an expectation
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
fallingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlɪŋ/
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
febrileadjective
of or relating to or characterized by fever
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
fixedadjectiveUS /fɪkst/
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
framedadjectiveUS /freɪmd/
provided with a frame
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
glancingverbUS /ˈɡlænsɪŋ/
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
hallnounUS /hɔːl/
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
HOLT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The spasm went as suddenly as it came,--Mr Holt became as motionless as he had just now been the other way.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
middlenounUS /ˈmɪdəl/
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
motionlessadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊʃənləs/
not in physical motion
From this reading The spasm went as suddenly as it came,--Mr Holt became as motionless as he had just now been the other way.
MRnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The spasm went as suddenly as it came,--Mr Holt became as motionless as he had just now been the other way.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The spasm went as suddenly as it came,--Mr Holt became as motionless as he had just now been the other way.
outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
pausedverbUS /pɔːzd/
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Sydney paused, and watched.
raisedadjectiveUS /reɪzd/
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
seizedverbUS /siːzd/
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
SINGULARadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡjələr/
unusual or striking
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
spasmnounUS /ˈspæzəm/
a painful and involuntary muscular contraction
From this reading The spasm went as suddenly as it came,--Mr Holt became as motionless as he had just now been the other way.
speakverbUS /spiːk/
express in speech
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/
having a supporting base
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/
happening unexpectedly
From this reading The spasm went as suddenly as it came,--Mr Holt became as motionless as he had just now been the other way.
SydneynounUS /ˈsɪdni/
the largest Australian city located in southeastern Australia on the Tasman Sea; state capital of New South Wales; Australia's chief port
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
thrownadjectiveUS /θroʊn/
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
upwardsadverbUS /ˈʌpwərdz/
spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
watchedverbUS /wɑːtʃt/
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Sydney paused, and watched.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The spasm went as suddenly as it came,--Mr Holt became as motionless as he had just now been the other way.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading He stood in an attitude of febrile expectancy,--his chin raised, his head thrown back, his eyes glancing upwards,--with the dreadful fixed glare which had come into them ever since we had entered the house.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The spasm went as suddenly as it came,--Mr Holt became as motionless as he had just now been the other way.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE SINGULAR BEHAVIOUR OF MR HOLT I was standing in the middle of the room, Sydney was between the door and me; Mr Holt was in the hall, just outside the doorway, in which he, so to speak, was framed.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading As Sydney advanced towards him he was seized with a kind of convulsion,--he had to lean against the side of the door to save himself from falling.
