used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then he sat still without a rustle.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading Before Frank could act, however, there came a sudden interruption to the conversation between the men below, Jem and Dan.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading SOME MYSTERY Frank gulped down his astonishment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was a thundering knock at the door.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before Frank could act, however, there came a sudden interruption to the conversation between the men below, Jem and Dan.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Before Frank could act, however, there came a sudden interruption to the conversation between the men below, Jem and Dan.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Before Frank could act, however, there came a sudden interruption to the conversation between the men below, Jem and Dan.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Before Frank could act, however, there came a sudden interruption to the conversation between the men below, Jem and Dan.
chumnounUS /tʃʌm/
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading Before Frank could act, however, there came a sudden interruption to the conversation between the men below, Jem and Dan.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before Frank could act, however, there came a sudden interruption to the conversation between the men below, Jem and Dan.
creepverbUS /kriːp/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Frank could act, however, there came a sudden interruption to the conversation between the men below, Jem and Dan.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading There was a thundering knock at the door.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading SOME MYSTERY Frank gulped down his astonishment.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading SOME MYSTERY Frank gulped down his astonishment.
gulpedverbUS /ɡʌlpt/
past form of “gulp” — to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one draught
From this reading SOME MYSTERY Frank gulped down his astonishment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then he sat still without a rustle.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading SOME MYSTERY Frank gulped down his astonishment.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Before Frank could act, however, there came a sudden interruption to the conversation between the men below, Jem and Dan.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
interruptionnounUS /ˌɪntərˈʌpʃən/
an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity
From this reading Before Frank could act, however, there came a sudden interruption to the conversation between the men below, Jem and Dan.
JemnounUS /dʒem/
a terrorist organization founded in 2000; a militant Islamic group active in Kashmir and closely aligned with al-Rashid Trust; seeks to secure release of imprisoned fellow militants by kidnappings
From this reading Before Frank could act, however, there came a sudden interruption to the conversation between the men below, Jem and Dan.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading There was a thundering knock at the door.
the force of workers available
From this reading Before Frank could act, however, there came a sudden interruption to the conversation between the men below, Jem and Dan.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading SOME MYSTERY Frank gulped down his astonishment.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
rustleverbUS /ˈrʌsəl/
make a dry crackling sound
From this reading Then he sat still without a rustle.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Then he sat still without a rustle.
snoreverbUS /snɔːr/
breathe noisily during one's sleep
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
with low volume
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading SOME MYSTERY Frank gulped down his astonishment.
not in physical motion
From this reading Then he sat still without a rustle.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Before Frank could act, however, there came a sudden interruption to the conversation between the men below, Jem and Dan.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before Frank could act, however, there came a sudden interruption to the conversation between the men below, Jem and Dan.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he sat still without a rustle.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Before Frank could act, however, there came a sudden interruption to the conversation between the men below, Jem and Dan.
thunderingadjectiveUS /ˈθʌndərɪŋ/
sounding like thunder
From this reading There was a thundering knock at the door.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
warnverbUS /wɔːrn/
notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was afraid that Bob might snore, wake up talking, and had an idea to creep closer to his chum, wake him up softly, and warn him to remain perfectly quiet.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Then he sat still without a rustle.
