used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE She followed him out of the black room into a dark, narrow passage.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Copplestone's sudden decision to reveal them to her was a surprise, and an unpleasant check to the development of her schemes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her calmness and self-possession remained undisturbed.
attemptsnounUS /əˈtempts/
plural of “attempt” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE She followed him out of the black room into a dark, narrow passage.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
calmnessnounUS /ˈkɑːmnəs/
steadiness of mind under stress
From this reading Her calmness and self-possession remained undisturbed.
checkverbUS /tʃek/
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading Copplestone's sudden decision to reveal them to her was a surprise, and an unpleasant check to the development of her schemes.
committingverbUS /kəˈmɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “commit” — perform an act, usually with a negative connotation
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
conjecturenounUS /kənˈdʒektʃər/
a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
persuaded of; very sure
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
Copplestone's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Copplestone's sudden decision to reveal them to her was a surprise, and an unpleasant check to the development of her schemes.
creepverbUS /kriːp/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
CrookedadjectiveUS /ˈkrʊkəd/
having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE She followed him out of the black room into a dark, narrow passage.
the act of making up your mind about something
From this reading Copplestone's sudden decision to reveal them to her was a surprise, and an unpleasant check to the development of her schemes.
developmentnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənt/
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading Copplestone's sudden decision to reveal them to her was a surprise, and an unpleasant check to the development of her schemes.
divisible by two
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE She followed him out of the black room into a dark, narrow passage.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her calmness and self-possession remained undisturbed.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
not accessible to view
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE She followed him out of the black room into a dark, narrow passage.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE She followed him out of the black room into a dark, narrow passage.
uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
marked by a lack of interest
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE She followed him out of the black room into a dark, narrow passage.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE She followed him out of the black room into a dark, narrow passage.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE She followed him out of the black room into a dark, narrow passage.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE She followed him out of the black room into a dark, narrow passage.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE She followed him out of the black room into a dark, narrow passage.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Her calmness and self-possession remained undisturbed.
revealverbUS /rɪˈviːl/
make visible
From this reading Copplestone's sudden decision to reveal them to her was a surprise, and an unpleasant check to the development of her schemes.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE She followed him out of the black room into a dark, narrow passage.
schemesnounUS /skiːmz/
plural of “scheme” — an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading Copplestone's sudden decision to reveal them to her was a surprise, and an unpleasant check to the development of her schemes.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE She followed him out of the black room into a dark, narrow passage.
secretsnounUS /ˈsiːkrəts/
plural of “secret” — something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
self-possessionnoun
the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior
From this reading Her calmness and self-possession remained undisturbed.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE She followed him out of the black room into a dark, narrow passage.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Copplestone's sudden decision to reveal them to her was a surprise, and an unpleasant check to the development of her schemes.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Copplestone's sudden decision to reveal them to her was a surprise, and an unpleasant check to the development of her schemes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE HOUSE She followed him out of the black room into a dark, narrow passage.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Copplestone's sudden decision to reveal them to her was a surprise, and an unpleasant check to the development of her schemes.
in or at that place or location
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
tremornounUS /ˈtremər/
an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear)
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
undisturbedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈstɜːrbd/
untroubled by interference or disturbance
From this reading Her calmness and self-possession remained undisturbed.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
unpleasantadjectiveUS /ənˈplezənt/
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading Copplestone's sudden decision to reveal them to her was a surprise, and an unpleasant check to the development of her schemes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Copplestone's sudden decision to reveal them to her was a surprise, and an unpleasant check to the development of her schemes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading That there were hidden things in the house she had for a long time been convinced, but of their nature she had been unable to form even a conjecture, in spite of many attempts to creep into the mystery.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without a tremor she accepted this unexpected invitation to the secrets of the Crooked House--quite ignorant of, and indifferent to, the danger to which she might be committing herself.
