used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The next instant Hauck was at the open door.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading David rose slowly to his feet, thrusting back his chair.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading From contemplating Brokaw's sagging body, Hauck's eyes were levelled at him.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
Brokaw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
Brokaw's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From contemplating Brokaw's sagging body, Hauck's eyes were levelled at him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading David rose slowly to his feet, thrusting back his chair.
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 He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
contemplatingverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading From contemplating Brokaw's sagging body, Hauck's eyes were levelled at him.
croakverbUS /kroʊk/
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
travel across or pass over
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading David rose slowly to his feet, thrusting back his chair.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The next instant Hauck was at the open door.
to come or go into
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading David rose slowly to his feet, thrusting back his chair.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From contemplating Brokaw's sagging body, Hauck's eyes were levelled at him.
fumesnounUS /fjuːmz/
gases ejected from an engine as waste products
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
glitternounUS /ˈɡlɪtər/
the quality of shining with a bright reflected light
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
grotesquelyadverbUS /ɡroʊˈteskli/
in a grotesque manner
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
Hauck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next instant Hauck was at the open door.
Hauck's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From contemplating Brokaw's sagging body, Hauck's eyes were levelled at him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading The next instant Hauck was at the open door.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
levelledverbUS /ˈlevəld/
inflected form of “level” — aim at
From this reading From contemplating Brokaw's sagging body, Hauck's eyes were levelled at him.
liquornounUS /ˈlɪkər/
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next instant Hauck was at the open door.
nodverbUS /nɑːd/
express or signify by nodding
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
on one occasion
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The next instant Hauck was at the open door.
by chance
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading David rose slowly to his feet, thrusting back his chair.
saggingadjectiveUS /ˈsæɡɪŋ/
hanging down (as from exhaustion or weakness)
From this reading From contemplating Brokaw's sagging body, Hauck's eyes were levelled at him.
secondsnounUS /ˈsekəndz/
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading David rose slowly to his feet, thrusting back his chair.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next instant Hauck was at the open door.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
thrustingnounUS /ˈθrʌstɪŋ/
a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
From this reading David rose slowly to his feet, thrusting back his chair.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Brokaw, with the fumes of liquor thick in his brain, tried to nod an invitation for him to enter; his head rolled grotesquely and his voice was a croak.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The next instant Hauck was at the open door.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading From contemplating Brokaw's sagging body, Hauck's eyes were levelled at him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He did not cross the threshold at once, but stood there for perhaps twenty seconds--his gray, hard face looking in on them with eyes in which there was a cold and sinister glitter.
