used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading He stepped back lightly with cat-like steps, his arms a little curved, his fingers all extended.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I stiffened and rose to my feet.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading He stepped back lightly with cat-like steps, his arms a little curved, his fingers all extended.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He stepped back lightly with cat-like steps, his arms a little curved, his fingers all extended.
backwardsadverbUS /ˈbækwərdz/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
button-hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in full evening dress with a camellia in his button-hole.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
camellianoun
any of several shrubs or small evergreen trees having solitary white or pink or reddish flowers
From this reading He was in full evening dress with a camellia in his button-hole.
cat-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stepped back lightly with cat-like steps, his arms a little curved, his fingers all extended.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From where we sat we could survey the whole, rich room.
curvedadjectiveUS /kɜːrvd/
having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend
From this reading He stepped back lightly with cat-like steps, his arms a little curved, his fingers all extended.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
put on clothes
From this reading He was in full evening dress with a camellia in his button-hole.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading He was in full evening dress with a camellia in his button-hole.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading He stepped back lightly with cat-like steps, his arms a little curved, his fingers all extended.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading I stiffened and rose to my feet.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading He stepped back lightly with cat-like steps, his arms a little curved, his fingers all extended.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From where we sat we could survey the whole, rich room.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading He was in full evening dress with a camellia in his button-hole.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was in full evening dress with a camellia in his button-hole.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was in full evening dress with a camellia in his button-hole.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I stiffened and rose to my feet.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
without good reason
From this reading He stepped back lightly with cat-like steps, his arms a little curved, his fingers all extended.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He stepped back lightly with cat-like steps, his arms a little curved, his fingers all extended.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I stiffened and rose to my feet.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
possessing material wealth
From this reading From where we sat we could survey the whole, rich room.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading From where we sat we could survey the whole, rich room.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading I stiffened and rose to my feet.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading From where we sat we could survey the whole, rich room.
express in words
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading He stepped back lightly with cat-like steps, his arms a little curved, his fingers all extended.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading He stepped back lightly with cat-like steps, his arms a little curved, his fingers all extended.
stiffenedverbUS /ˈstɪfənd/
past form of “stiffen” — become stiff or stiffer
From this reading I stiffened and rose to my feet.
surveynounUS /sərˈveɪ/
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading From where we sat we could survey the whole, rich room.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From where we sat we could survey the whole, rich room.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I stiffened and rose to my feet.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was in full evening dress with a camellia in his button-hole.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading From where we sat we could survey the whole, rich room.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Through the open door--I must say there were several doors in the room--came a tall man, _walking backwards_.
in or at the place that
From this reading From where we sat we could survey the whole, rich room.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading From where we sat we could survey the whole, rich room.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was in full evening dress with a camellia in his button-hole.
