used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
adjacentadjectiveUS /əˈdʒeɪsənt/
nearest in space or position; immediately adjoining without intervening space
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
anew
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
react verbally
From this reading No answer came.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And at that, turning back along the hall, he opened the door of the room which faced upon the street, and he and Hetherwick looked in.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading And at that, turning back along the hall, he opened the door of the room which faced upon the street, and he and Hetherwick looked in.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading No answer came.
cellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
close-curtained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A musty-smelling, close-curtained room that, a sort of Sunday parlour, little used, cold and comfortless in its formality.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading A musty-smelling, close-curtained room that, a sort of Sunday parlour, little used, cold and comfortless in its formality.
comfortlessadjective
without comfort
From this reading A musty-smelling, close-curtained room that, a sort of Sunday parlour, little used, cold and comfortless in its formality.
communicatedverbUS /kəˈmjuːnəkeɪtɪd/
past form of “communicate” — transmit information
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading And at that, turning back along the hall, he opened the door of the room which faced upon the street, and he and Hetherwick looked in.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading And at that, turning back along the hall, he opened the door of the room which faced upon the street, and he and Hetherwick looked in.
formalitynounUS /fɔːrˈmæləti/
a requirement of etiquette or custom
From this reading A musty-smelling, close-curtained room that, a sort of Sunday parlour, little used, cold and comfortless in its formality.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading And at that, turning back along the hall, he opened the door of the room which faced upon the street, and he and Hetherwick looked in.
hall-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
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 went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
Hetherwick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And at that, turning back along the hall, he opened the door of the room which faced upon the street, and he and Hetherwick looked in.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading And at that, turning back along the hall, he opened the door of the room which faced upon the street, and he and Hetherwick looked in.
loudlyadverbUS /ˈlaʊdli/
with relatively high volume
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
musty-smelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A musty-smelling, close-curtained room that, a sort of Sunday parlour, little used, cold and comfortless in its formality.
not any; not one
From this reading No answer came.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading And at that, turning back along the hall, he opened the door of the room which faced upon the street, and he and Hetherwick looked in.
panelnounUS /ˈpænəl/
sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading A musty-smelling, close-curtained room that, a sort of Sunday parlour, little used, cold and comfortless in its formality.
polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/
perfected or made shiny and smooth
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
railedverbUS /reɪld/
past form of “rail” — complain bitterly
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading And at that, turning back along the hall, he opened the door of the room which faced upon the street, and he and Hetherwick looked in.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading A musty-smelling, close-curtained room that, a sort of Sunday parlour, little used, cold and comfortless in its formality.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading And at that, turning back along the hall, he opened the door of the room which faced upon the street, and he and Hetherwick looked in.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading A musty-smelling, close-curtained room that, a sort of Sunday parlour, little used, cold and comfortless in its formality.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And at that, turning back along the hall, he opened the door of the room which faced upon the street, and he and Hetherwick looked in.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading And at that, turning back along the hall, he opened the door of the room which faced upon the street, and he and Hetherwick looked in.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading And at that, turning back along the hall, he opened the door of the room which faced upon the street, and he and Hetherwick looked in.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading A musty-smelling, close-curtained room that, a sort of Sunday parlour, little used, cold and comfortless in its formality.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
WATERLOOnounUS /ˈwɔːtərluː/
a town in central Belgium where in 1815 Napoleon met his final defeat
From this reading WATERLOO The detective, walking a little in advance of his companion, stepped forward to a hall-table and knocked loudly on its polished surface.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He went further along, to the head of a railed stair which evidently communicated with a cellar kitchen; again he knocked, more loudly than before, on an adjacent panel, and again got no reply.
