used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The door fell to its place and a torch was lighted at Mr. Bruce’s command, and an inspection of their quarters was made.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The door fell to its place and a torch was lighted at Mr. Bruce’s command, and an inspection of their quarters was made.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
BrucenounUS /bruːs/
Australian physician and bacteriologist who described the bacterium that causes undulant fever or brucellosis (1855-1931)
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
Bruce'snounUS /ˈbruːsəz/
possessive form of “bruce” — Australian physician and bacteriologist who described the bacterium that causes undulant fever or brucellosis (1855-1931)
From this reading The door fell to its place and a torch was lighted at Mr. Bruce’s command, and an inspection of their quarters was made.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
chargedadjectiveUS /tʃɑːrdʒd/
of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading The door fell to its place and a torch was lighted at Mr. Bruce’s command, and an inspection of their quarters was made.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
dodgedverbUS /dɑːdʒd/
past form of “dodge” — make a sudden movement in a new direction so as to avoid
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
divisible by two
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The door fell to its place and a torch was lighted at Mr. Bruce’s command, and an inspection of their quarters was made.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
hideousadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdiəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
inspectionnounUS /ˌɪnˈspekʃən/
a formal or official examination
From this reading The door fell to its place and a torch was lighted at Mr. Bruce’s command, and an inspection of their quarters was made.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The door fell to its place and a torch was lighted at Mr. Bruce’s command, and an inspection of their quarters was made.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
set afire or burning
From this reading The door fell to its place and a torch was lighted at Mr. Bruce’s command, and an inspection of their quarters was made.
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 This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
loweringadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərɪŋ/
darkened by clouds
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The door fell to its place and a torch was lighted at Mr. Bruce’s command, and an inspection of their quarters was made.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
not any; not one
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
and nothing more
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading The door fell to its place and a torch was lighted at Mr. Bruce’s command, and an inspection of their quarters was made.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
cut with a saw
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
slidenounUS /slaɪd/
a small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
make square
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
stoopedadjectiveUS /stuːpt/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
carry out
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The door fell to its place and a torch was lighted at Mr. Bruce’s command, and an inspection of their quarters was made.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The door fell to its place and a torch was lighted at Mr. Bruce’s command, and an inspection of their quarters was made.
torchnounUS /tɔːrtʃ/
a light usually carried in the hand; consists of some flammable substance
From this reading “Light a torch,” said Mr. Bruce, as he saw the stone door slowly slide into place.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading This did not take long, for the chamber was only about twenty feet square; the ceiling was about the height of that in the hall or passage.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading One hideous head of a native stooped and looked under the lowering door, and shaking a torch in his hand, dodged back as if afraid of being charged upon by the prisoners.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The door fell to its place and a torch was lighted at Mr. Bruce’s command, and an inspection of their quarters was made.
in or at the place that
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Try as they would they could discover no other opening, nor any opening now, for the stone fitted the doorway so perfectly, that not even a crack was left to show where this had been.
