used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
ADMONITIONnounUS /ˌædməˈnɪʃən/
cautionary advice about something imminent (especially imminent danger or other unpleasantness)
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading "I was waiting for you," he announced without preface.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I felt sure you'd be in to-night sometime."
Darley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
DelayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈleɪd/
not as far along as normal in development
From this reading "Delayed, were you?"
dennounUS /den/
the habitation of wild animals
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading "I felt sure you'd be in to-night sometime."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I was waiting for you," he announced without preface.
not fake or counterfeit
From this reading He was smiling a welcome, one unmistakably genuine.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I was waiting for you," he announced without preface.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
landingnounUS /ˈlændɪŋ/
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
latch-key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
newcomernounUS /ˈnuːkʌmər/
any new participant in some activity
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He was smiling a welcome, one unmistakably genuine.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
prefacenounUS /ˈprefəs/
a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book
From this reading "I was waiting for you," he announced without preface.
Randall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
RobertsnounUS /ˈrɑːbərts/
United States biochemist (born in England) honored for his discovery that some genes contain introns (born in 1943)
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading He was smiling a welcome, one unmistakably genuine.
with low volume
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
sometimeadverbUS /ˈsʌmtaɪm/
at some indefinite or unstated time
From this reading "I felt sure you'd be in to-night sometime."
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "I felt sure you'd be in to-night sometime."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
in or at that place or location
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I felt sure you'd be in to-night sometime."
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
unmistakablyadverbUS /ˌʌnmɪˈsteɪkəbli/
without possibility of mistake
From this reading He was smiling a welcome, one unmistakably genuine.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading "I was waiting for you," he announced without preface.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
accept gladly
From this reading He was smiling a welcome, one unmistakably genuine.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Delayed, were you?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading ADMONITION There was a light in the den as Darley Roberts, having let himself in with his latch-key, started up the stairs toward his own rooms, and, although he moved softly, Harry Randall himself faced the newcomer on the landing, his hand extended.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "I was waiting for you," he announced without preface.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I was waiting for you," he announced without preface.
you'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I felt sure you'd be in to-night sometime."
