used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
anew
From this reading The knock came again, bolder and more peremptory still.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
apprehensiveadjectiveUS /ˌæprɪˈhensɪv/
quick to understand
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
bolderadjectiveUS /ˈboʊldər/
comparative of “bold” — fearless and daring
From this reading The knock came again, bolder and more peremptory still.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The knock came again, bolder and more peremptory still.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He sprang to his feet when the sharp knock on the door followed.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading He sprang to his feet when the sharp knock on the door followed.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He sprang to his feet when the sharp knock on the door followed.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
the act of retaining something
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
inquirynounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/
a search for knowledge
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading He sprang to his feet when the sharp knock on the door followed.
held up in the air
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
MEANESTadjectiveUS /ˈmiːnəst/
superlative of “mean” — approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
From this reading THE "MEANEST WORD."
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The knock came again, bolder and more peremptory still.
Mose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He sprang to his feet when the sharp knock on the door followed.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
outspreadadjective
fully extended in width
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
peremptoryadjectiveUS /pərˈemptəri/
offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power
From this reading The knock came again, bolder and more peremptory still.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading He sprang to his feet when the sharp knock on the door followed.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading He sprang to his feet when the sharp knock on the door followed.
not in physical motion
From this reading The knock came again, bolder and more peremptory still.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE "MEANEST WORD."
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
tiptoedverbUS /ˈtɪptoʊd/
past form of “tiptoe” — walk on one's toes
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He sprang to his feet when the sharp knock on the door followed.
a message informing of danger
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
at the time that
From this reading He sprang to his feet when the sharp knock on the door followed.
Whipple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mose Whipple had lifted his head in apprehensive inquiry at the sound of the footsteps outside the door of the cabin.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Holding a hand downward with outspread fingers as a warning to silence, he tiptoed out to the middle of the room, then paused and listened.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading THE "MEANEST WORD."
