adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
Ahmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CASTING OF THE DIE Ahmed Ismail crossed the threshold behind Shere Ali.
AlinounUS /ˈɑːli/
United States prizefighter who won the world heavyweight championship three times (born in 1942)
From this reading THE CASTING OF THE DIE Ahmed Ismail crossed the threshold behind Shere Ali.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He closed the door quietly, bolted and locked it.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The blackness of the passage gaping as the door opened had roused him to suspicion even while he had been standing in the street.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But he had not thought of drawing back.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The blackness of the passage gaping as the door opened had roused him to suspicion even while he had been standing in the street.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading THE CASTING OF THE DIE Ahmed Ismail crossed the threshold behind Shere Ali.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading The blackness of the passage gaping as the door opened had roused him to suspicion even while he had been standing in the street.
boltedverbUS /ˈboʊltəd/
past form of “bolt” — move or jump suddenly
From this reading He closed the door quietly, bolted and locked it.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he had not thought of drawing back.
CASTINGnounUS /ˈkæstɪŋ/
object formed by a mold
From this reading THE CASTING OF THE DIE Ahmed Ismail crossed the threshold behind Shere Ali.
closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading He closed the door quietly, bolted and locked it.
crossedadjectiveUS /krɔːst/
placed crosswise
From this reading THE CASTING OF THE DIE Ahmed Ismail crossed the threshold behind Shere Ali.
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
DIEverbUS /daɪ/
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading THE CASTING OF THE DIE Ahmed Ismail crossed the threshold behind Shere Ali.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He closed the door quietly, bolted and locked it.
drawingnounUS /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading But he had not thought of drawing back.
elbownounUS /ˈelboʊ/
hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading The blackness of the passage gaping as the door opened had roused him to suspicion even while he had been standing in the street.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
gapingadjectiveUS /ˈɡeɪpɪŋ/
with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
From this reading The blackness of the passage gaping as the door opened had roused him to suspicion even while he had been standing in the street.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The blackness of the passage gaping as the door opened had roused him to suspicion even while he had been standing in the street.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He closed the door quietly, bolted and locked it.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The blackness of the passage gaping as the door opened had roused him to suspicion even while he had been standing in the street.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
intentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtentli/
with strained or eager attention
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
Ismail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CASTING OF THE DIE Ahmed Ismail crossed the threshold behind Shere Ali.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He closed the door quietly, bolted and locked it.
listenedverbUS /ˈlɪsənd/
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
lockedverbUS /lɑːkt/
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading He closed the door quietly, bolted and locked it.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
movementnounUS /ˈmuːvmənt/
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But he had not thought of drawing back.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CASTING OF THE DIE Ahmed Ismail crossed the threshold behind Shere Ali.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The blackness of the passage gaping as the door opened had roused him to suspicion even while he had been standing in the street.
passagenounUS /ˈpæsədʒ/
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading The blackness of the passage gaping as the door opened had roused him to suspicion even while he had been standing in the street.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
quietlyadverbUS /ˈkwaɪətli/
with low volume
From this reading He closed the door quietly, bolted and locked it.
rousedverbUS /raʊzd/
past form of “rouse” — become active
From this reading The blackness of the passage gaping as the door opened had roused him to suspicion even while he had been standing in the street.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
Shere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CASTING OF THE DIE Ahmed Ismail crossed the threshold behind Shere Ali.
silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
someonepronounUS /ˈsʌmwʌn/
a person, without saying who
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
spacenounUS /speɪs/
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/
having a supporting base
From this reading The blackness of the passage gaping as the door opened had roused him to suspicion even while he had been standing in the street.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
streetnounUS /striːt/
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The blackness of the passage gaping as the door opened had roused him to suspicion even while he had been standing in the street.
suspicionnounUS /səˈspɪʃən/
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading The blackness of the passage gaping as the door opened had roused him to suspicion even while he had been standing in the street.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CASTING OF THE DIE Ahmed Ismail crossed the threshold behind Shere Ali.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But he had not thought of drawing back.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading THE CASTING OF THE DIE Ahmed Ismail crossed the threshold behind Shere Ali.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The blackness of the passage gaping as the door opened had roused him to suspicion even while he had been standing in the street.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intently--Ahmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The blackness of the passage gaping as the door opened had roused him to suspicion even while he had been standing in the street.
