used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A bump on the library door, as from an opposing knee, did duty for a knock.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A bump on the library door, as from an opposing knee, did duty for a knock.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading "Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading "Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case.
bumpverbUS /bʌmp/
knock against with force or violence
From this reading A bump on the library door, as from an opposing knee, did duty for a knock.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "Certainly not!"
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading A bump on the library door, as from an opposing knee, did duty for a knock.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A bump on the library door, as from an opposing knee, did duty for a knock.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading A bump on the library door, as from an opposing knee, did duty for a knock.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
gaspingverbUS /ˈɡæspɪŋ/
-ing form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading "Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line.
the act of retaining something
From this reading "Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading A bump on the library door, as from an opposing knee, did duty for a knock.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading A bump on the library door, as from an opposing knee, did duty for a knock.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
a room where books are kept
From this reading A bump on the library door, as from an opposing knee, did duty for a knock.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
Norah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A bump on the library door, as from an opposing knee, did duty for a knock.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading "Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case.
opposingadjectiveUS /əˈpoʊzɪŋ/
characterized by active hostility
From this reading A bump on the library door, as from an opposing knee, did duty for a knock.
packing-case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case.
pursing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading "Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
sixthadjectiveUS /sɪksθ/
coming next after the fifth and just before the seventh in position
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
TerrynounUS /ˈteri/
English actress (1847-1928)
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading "Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading "Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the letter which she was reading for the sixth time.
which person or people
From this reading "Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Of course I would not see him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line.
