used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Slowly and with infinite care Rathburn raised the trapdoor an inch or two and listened intently.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE CELLAR Rathburn rose and crouched under the trapdoor, gun in hand.
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading Lamy watched him, breathless, perplexed, uncertain.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Lamy scrambled to his knees on the pile of gunny sacks; but Rathburn swung quickly upon him.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading Slowly and with infinite care Rathburn raised the trapdoor an inch or two and listened intently.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE CELLAR Rathburn rose and crouched under the trapdoor, gun in hand.
CELLARnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE CELLAR Rathburn rose and crouched under the trapdoor, gun in hand.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE CELLAR Rathburn rose and crouched under the trapdoor, gun in hand.
deathlyadjectiveUS /ˈdeθli/
having the physical appearance of death
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE CELLAR Rathburn rose and crouched under the trapdoor, gun in hand.
gunnynounUS /ˈɡʌni/
coarse jute fabric
From this reading Lamy scrambled to his knees on the pile of gunny sacks; but Rathburn swung quickly upon him.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE CELLAR Rathburn rose and crouched under the trapdoor, gun in hand.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Lamy watched him, breathless, perplexed, uncertain.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Lamy scrambled to his knees on the pile of gunny sacks; but Rathburn swung quickly upon him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE CELLAR Rathburn rose and crouched under the trapdoor, gun in hand.
inchnounUS /ɪntʃ/
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading Slowly and with infinite care Rathburn raised the trapdoor an inch or two and listened intently.
having no limits or boundaries in time or space or extent or magnitude
From this reading Slowly and with infinite care Rathburn raised the trapdoor an inch or two and listened intently.
intentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtentli/
with strained or eager attention
From this reading Slowly and with infinite care Rathburn raised the trapdoor an inch or two and listened intently.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Lamy scrambled to his knees on the pile of gunny sacks; but Rathburn swung quickly upon him.
Lamy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lamy watched him, breathless, perplexed, uncertain.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Slowly and with infinite care Rathburn raised the trapdoor an inch or two and listened intently.
the force of workers available
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
not any; not one
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lamy scrambled to his knees on the pile of gunny sacks; but Rathburn swung quickly upon him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Lamy scrambled to his knees on the pile of gunny sacks; but Rathburn swung quickly upon him.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Slowly and with infinite care Rathburn raised the trapdoor an inch or two and listened intently.
perplexedadjectiveUS /pərˈplekst/
full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment
From this reading Lamy watched him, breathless, perplexed, uncertain.
pilenounUS /paɪl/
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading Lamy scrambled to his knees on the pile of gunny sacks; but Rathburn swung quickly upon him.
with speed
From this reading Lamy scrambled to his knees on the pile of gunny sacks; but Rathburn swung quickly upon him.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Slowly and with infinite care Rathburn raised the trapdoor an inch or two and listened intently.
Rathburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE CELLAR Rathburn rose and crouched under the trapdoor, gun in hand.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE CELLAR Rathburn rose and crouched under the trapdoor, gun in hand.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
sacksnounUS /sæks/
plural of “sack” — a bag made of paper or plastic for holding customer's purchases
From this reading Lamy scrambled to his knees on the pile of gunny sacks; but Rathburn swung quickly upon him.
scrambledadjectiveUS /ˈskræmbəld/
thrown together in a disorderly fashion
From this reading Lamy scrambled to his knees on the pile of gunny sacks; but Rathburn swung quickly upon him.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly and with infinite care Rathburn raised the trapdoor an inch or two and listened intently.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Lamy scrambled to his knees on the pile of gunny sacks; but Rathburn swung quickly upon him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE CELLAR Rathburn rose and crouched under the trapdoor, gun in hand.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lamy scrambled to his knees on the pile of gunny sacks; but Rathburn swung quickly upon him.
trapdoor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE CELLAR Rathburn rose and crouched under the trapdoor, gun in hand.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Slowly and with infinite care Rathburn raised the trapdoor an inch or two and listened intently.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading Lamy watched him, breathless, perplexed, uncertain.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading CAUGHT IN THE CELLAR Rathburn rose and crouched under the trapdoor, gun in hand.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Lamy scrambled to his knees on the pile of gunny sacks; but Rathburn swung quickly upon him.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Lamy watched him, breathless, perplexed, uncertain.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They heard men running; then there were no sounds from above and a deathly stillness settled down.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Slowly and with infinite care Rathburn raised the trapdoor an inch or two and listened intently.
