used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A LONG WALK The footsteps sounded overhead with a singular regularity.
anew
From this reading From the fireplace to the door, and back again from the door to the fireplace.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The footsteps were very light; it was almost as though an animal, a caged animal, padded from the bars at one end to the bars at the other.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The footsteps were very light; it was almost as though an animal, a caged animal, padded from the bars at one end to the bars at the other.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From the fireplace to the door, and back again from the door to the fireplace.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The footsteps were very light; it was almost as though an animal, a caged animal, padded from the bars at one end to the bars at the other.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The footsteps were very light; it was almost as though an animal, a caged animal, padded from the bars at one end to the bars at the other.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At each turn there was a short pause, and each pause was of the same duration.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading From the fireplace to the door, and back again from the door to the fireplace.
barsnounUS /bɑːrz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights
From this reading The footsteps were very light; it was almost as though an animal, a caged animal, padded from the bars at one end to the bars at the other.
cagedverbUS /keɪdʒd/
past form of “cage” — confine in a cage
From this reading The footsteps were very light; it was almost as though an animal, a caged animal, padded from the bars at one end to the bars at the other.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading From the fireplace to the door, and back again from the door to the fireplace.
durationnounUS /ˈdʊˈreɪʃən/
the period of time during which something continues
From this reading At each turn there was a short pause, and each pause was of the same duration.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading At each turn there was a short pause, and each pause was of the same duration.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The footsteps were very light; it was almost as though an animal, a caged animal, padded from the bars at one end to the bars at the other.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading From the fireplace to the door, and back again from the door to the fireplace.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading A LONG WALK The footsteps sounded overhead with a singular regularity.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the fireplace to the door, and back again from the door to the fireplace.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was something stealthy in the footsteps too.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The footsteps were very light; it was almost as though an animal, a caged animal, padded from the bars at one end to the bars at the other.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The footsteps were very light; it was almost as though an animal, a caged animal, padded from the bars at one end to the bars at the other.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading A LONG WALK The footsteps sounded overhead with a singular regularity.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At each turn there was a short pause, and each pause was of the same duration.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The footsteps were very light; it was almost as though an animal, a caged animal, padded from the bars at one end to the bars at the other.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The footsteps were very light; it was almost as though an animal, a caged animal, padded from the bars at one end to the bars at the other.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading A LONG WALK The footsteps sounded overhead with a singular regularity.
paddedadjectiveUS /ˈpædɪd/
softened by the addition of cushions or padding
From this reading The footsteps were very light; it was almost as though an animal, a caged animal, padded from the bars at one end to the bars at the other.
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading At each turn there was a short pause, and each pause was of the same duration.
regularitynounUS /ˌreɡjəˈlerəti/
a property of polygons: the property of having equal sides and equal angles
From this reading A LONG WALK The footsteps sounded overhead with a singular regularity.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At each turn there was a short pause, and each pause was of the same duration.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading At each turn there was a short pause, and each pause was of the same duration.
unusual or striking
From this reading A LONG WALK The footsteps sounded overhead with a singular regularity.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There was something stealthy in the footsteps too.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading A LONG WALK The footsteps sounded overhead with a singular regularity.
stealthyadjectiveUS /ˈstelθi/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading There was something stealthy in the footsteps too.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A LONG WALK The footsteps sounded overhead with a singular regularity.
in or at that place or location
From this reading At each turn there was a short pause, and each pause was of the same duration.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The footsteps were very light; it was almost as though an animal, a caged animal, padded from the bars at one end to the bars at the other.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From the fireplace to the door, and back again from the door to the fireplace.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading There was something stealthy in the footsteps too.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading At each turn there was a short pause, and each pause was of the same duration.
precisely as stated
From this reading The footsteps were very light; it was almost as though an animal, a caged animal, padded from the bars at one end to the bars at the other.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading A LONG WALK The footsteps sounded overhead with a singular regularity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At each turn there was a short pause, and each pause was of the same duration.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The footsteps were very light; it was almost as though an animal, a caged animal, padded from the bars at one end to the bars at the other.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A LONG WALK The footsteps sounded overhead with a singular regularity.
