used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
ABOUTprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
accurateadjectiveUS /ˈækjərət/
conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A moment later, the lower sash was slowly pushed up and a young girl appeared.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A moment later, the lower sash was slowly pushed up and a young girl appeared.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
past form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
criminologynounUS /ˌkrɪmɪˈnɑːlədʒi/
the scientific study of crime and criminal behavior and law enforcement
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
Dennis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
being one more than ten
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
at any time
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
fifty-threeadjective
being three more than fifty
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
a young female
From this reading A moment later, the lower sash was slowly pushed up and a young girl appeared.
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Please—I have hurt myself.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
Holt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
be the source of pain
From this reading “Please—I have hurt myself.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Please—I have hurt myself.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
inheritedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈherətɪd/
occurring among members of a family usually by heredity
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A moment later, the lower sash was slowly pushed up and a young girl appeared.
Letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “Let me in!” she whispered.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading A moment later, the lower sash was slowly pushed up and a young girl appeared.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Let me in!” she whispered.
meticulouslyadverbUS /məˈtɪkjələsli/
in a meticulous manner
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
a particular point in time
From this reading A moment later, the lower sash was slowly pushed up and a young girl appeared.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “Please—I have hurt myself.”
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
panenounUS /peɪn/
sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
peremptoryadjectiveUS /pərˈemptəri/
offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading “Please—I have hurt myself.”
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading A moment later, the lower sash was slowly pushed up and a young girl appeared.
quoteverbUS /kwoʊt/
repeat a passage from
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
remoteadjectiveUS /rɪˈmoʊt/
located far away spatially
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
sashnounUS /sæʃ/
a framework that holds the panes of a window in the window frame
From this reading A moment later, the lower sash was slowly pushed up and a young girl appeared.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Let me in!” she whispered.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A moment later, the lower sash was slowly pushed up and a young girl appeared.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
tappingnounUS /ˈtæpɪŋ/
the sound of light blow or knock
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A moment later, the lower sash was slowly pushed up and a young girl appeared.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
well-knownadjectiveUS /ˈwelˈnoʊn/
widely or fully known
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading WHAT THIS STORY IS ABOUT The well-known authority on criminology, Dennis Holt, inherited a house in a remote village, the sort of place in which, to quote himself, “nothing ever happens.”
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading “Let me in!” she whispered.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading One night at fifty-three minutes past eleven (he was always meticulously accurate about time), his attention was attracted by a peremptory tapping on the window pane.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading A moment later, the lower sash was slowly pushed up and a young girl appeared.
