used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A stubbly red-head protruded itself through the opening.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He grunted, clutched at the sill of the opening for an instant, and then went toppling down the stairway in a heap.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He grunted, clutched at the sill of the opening for an instant, and then went toppling down the stairway in a heap.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He grunted, clutched at the sill of the opening for an instant, and then went toppling down the stairway in a heap.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading A roar of fury and a rush of feet from below followed.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading "Take that!" cried Rob bringing down the bulk of timber with a resounding crack on the fellow's pate.
bulknounUS /bʌlk/
the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part
From this reading "Take that!" cried Rob bringing down the bulk of timber with a resounding crack on the fellow's pate.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading He grunted, clutched at the sill of the opening for an instant, and then went toppling down the stairway in a heap.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The crucial moment had come.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading "Take that!" cried Rob bringing down the bulk of timber with a resounding crack on the fellow's pate.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Take that!" cried Rob bringing down the bulk of timber with a resounding crack on the fellow's pate.
crucialadjectiveUS /ˈkruːʃəl/
of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
From this reading The crucial moment had come.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "Take that!" cried Rob bringing down the bulk of timber with a resounding crack on the fellow's pate.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading A roar of fury and a rush of feet from below followed.
fellow'snounUS /ˈfeloʊz/
possessive form of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading "Take that!" cried Rob bringing down the bulk of timber with a resounding crack on the fellow's pate.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading A roar of fury and a rush of feet from below followed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He grunted, clutched at the sill of the opening for an instant, and then went toppling down the stairway in a heap.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A roar of fury and a rush of feet from below followed.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading A roar of fury and a rush of feet from below followed.
gruntedverbUS /ˈɡrʌntɪd/
past form of “grunt” — issue a grunting, low, animal-like noise
From this reading He grunted, clutched at the sill of the opening for an instant, and then went toppling down the stairway in a heap.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The crucial moment had come.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He grunted, clutched at the sill of the opening for an instant, and then went toppling down the stairway in a heap.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading He grunted, clutched at the sill of the opening for an instant, and then went toppling down the stairway in a heap.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He grunted, clutched at the sill of the opening for an instant, and then went toppling down the stairway in a heap.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading He grunted, clutched at the sill of the opening for an instant, and then went toppling down the stairway in a heap.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading A stubbly red-head protruded itself through the opening.
a particular point in time
From this reading The crucial moment had come.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Take that!" cried Rob bringing down the bulk of timber with a resounding crack on the fellow's pate.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Take that!" cried Rob bringing down the bulk of timber with a resounding crack on the fellow's pate.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading A stubbly red-head protruded itself through the opening.
patenounUS /peɪt/
liver or meat or fowl finely minced or ground and variously seasoned
From this reading "Take that!" cried Rob bringing down the bulk of timber with a resounding crack on the fellow's pate.
protruded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stubbly red-head protruded itself through the opening.
red-head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stubbly red-head protruded itself through the opening.
resoundingadjectiveUS /riˈsaʊndɪŋ/
characterized by resonance
From this reading "Take that!" cried Rob bringing down the bulk of timber with a resounding crack on the fellow's pate.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading A roar of fury and a rush of feet from below followed.
take something away by force or without the consent of the owner
From this reading "Take that!" cried Rob bringing down the bulk of timber with a resounding crack on the fellow's pate.
move hurridly
From this reading A roar of fury and a rush of feet from below followed.
sillnounUS /sɪl/
structural member consisting of a continuous horizontal timber forming the lowest member of a framework or supporting structure
From this reading He grunted, clutched at the sill of the opening for an instant, and then went toppling down the stairway in a heap.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading He grunted, clutched at the sill of the opening for an instant, and then went toppling down the stairway in a heap.
stubblyadjective
having a short growth of beard
From this reading A stubbly red-head protruded itself through the opening.
carry out
From this reading "Take that!" cried Rob bringing down the bulk of timber with a resounding crack on the fellow's pate.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Take that!" cried Rob bringing down the bulk of timber with a resounding crack on the fellow's pate.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A stubbly red-head protruded itself through the opening.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He grunted, clutched at the sill of the opening for an instant, and then went toppling down the stairway in a heap.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A stubbly red-head protruded itself through the opening.
timbernounUS /ˈtɪmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading "Take that!" cried Rob bringing down the bulk of timber with a resounding crack on the fellow's pate.
topplingverbUS /ˈtɑːpəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “topple” — fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading He grunted, clutched at the sill of the opening for an instant, and then went toppling down the stairway in a heap.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He grunted, clutched at the sill of the opening for an instant, and then went toppling down the stairway in a heap.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Take that!" cried Rob bringing down the bulk of timber with a resounding crack on the fellow's pate.
