Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

have

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

a room used primarily for sleeping

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

next to; at the side of

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading On the table, but beyond his vision, was the lamp.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

placed in a grave

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading On the table, but beyond his vision, was the lamp.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

a natural or artificial enclosed space

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

in a close relation or position in time or space

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

in a dim indistinct manner

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

opinion or judgment

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

-ing form of “flatten” — make flat or flatter

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

acting with uncertainty or hesitance or lack of confidence

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

provided with artificial light

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

without caution or prudence

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

press tightly together or cram

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

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 In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading On the table, but beyond his vision, was the lamp.

immediately past

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

fasten with a latch

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

set afire or burning

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

plural of “magazine” — a periodic publication containing pictures and stories and articles of interest to those who purchase it or subscribe to it

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

a particular point in time

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

plural of “pace” — the rate of moving (especially walking or running)

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

a raised horizontal surface

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

the act of assuming or maintaining a reclining position

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

any loose flowing garment

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

cut with a saw

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

past form of “search” — try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

a descent as through liquid (especially through water)

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

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 He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

the upper part of anything

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

having come into contact

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

a vivid mental image

From this reading On the table, but beyond his vision, was the lamp.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading On the table, but beyond his vision, was the lamp.

at the time that

From this reading His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

a Caucasian

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

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 In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.