used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Then something about her grandfather’s awkward position attracted her attention.
anew
From this reading Slowly ascending to the upper floor she pushed open the door and called again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
ascendingadjectiveUS /əˈsendɪŋ/
moving or going or growing upward
From this reading Slowly ascending to the upper floor she pushed open the door and called again.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
past form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
From this reading Then something about her grandfather’s awkward position attracted her attention.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading Then something about her grandfather’s awkward position attracted her attention.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She crept forward to peer into his face; then started back with a cry of dismay.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She went to the stair and called to Elaine, but there was no reply.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading She went to the stair and called to Elaine, but there was no reply.
chickensnounUS /ˈtʃɪkənz/
plural of “chicken” — the flesh of a chicken used for food
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading She crept forward to peer into his face; then started back with a cry of dismay.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading She crept forward to peer into his face; then started back with a cry of dismay.
dismaynounUS /dɪˈsmeɪ/
the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
From this reading She crept forward to peer into his face; then started back with a cry of dismay.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Slowly ascending to the upper floor she pushed open the door and called again.
Elaine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went to the stair and called to Elaine, but there was no reply.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She crept forward to peer into his face; then started back with a cry of dismay.
fednounUS /fed/
any federal law-enforcement officer
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Slowly ascending to the upper floor she pushed open the door and called again.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading She crept forward to peer into his face; then started back with a cry of dismay.
set up or found
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
grandfather'snounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “grandfather” — the father of your father or mother
From this reading Then something about her grandfather’s awkward position attracted her attention.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Then something about her grandfather’s awkward position attracted her attention.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She crept forward to peer into his face; then started back with a cry of dismay.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She crept forward to peer into his face; then started back with a cry of dismay.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
not any; not one
From this reading She went to the stair and called to Elaine, but there was no reply.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She crept forward to peer into his face; then started back with a cry of dismay.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Slowly ascending to the upper floor she pushed open the door and called again.
outcrynounUS /ˈaʊtkraɪ/
a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
peernounUS /pɪr/
a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
From this reading She crept forward to peer into his face; then started back with a cry of dismay.
Phœbe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
plaintiveadjectiveUS /ˈpleɪntɪv/
expressing sorrow
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Then something about her grandfather’s awkward position attracted her attention.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading Slowly ascending to the upper floor she pushed open the door and called again.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading She went to the stair and called to Elaine, but there was no reply.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She went to the stair and called to Elaine, but there was no reply.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly ascending to the upper floor she pushed open the door and called again.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Then something about her grandfather’s awkward position attracted her attention.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading She went to the stair and called to Elaine, but there was no reply.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She crept forward to peer into his face; then started back with a cry of dismay.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then something about her grandfather’s awkward position attracted her attention.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She went to the stair and called to Elaine, but there was no reply.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She went to the stair and called to Elaine, but there was no reply.
the topmost one of two
From this reading Slowly ascending to the upper floor she pushed open the door and called again.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She went to the stair and called to Elaine, but there was no reply.
WATERMARKnounUS /ˈwɔːtərmɑːrk/
a line marking the level reached by a body of water
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She went to the stair and called to Elaine, but there was no reply.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE WATERMARK Phœbe found the chickens had not been fed, and they were making a plaintive outcry for attention.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She crept forward to peer into his face; then started back with a cry of dismay.
