used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
a rapid active commotion
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was the newcomer's voice, he was being conducted to his room by Hennessey.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Thanks, I can carry it myself."
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading "Thanks, I can carry it myself."
conductedverbUS /kənˈdʌktəd/
past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading It was the newcomer's voice, he was being conducted to his room by Hennessey.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
hearthrugnoun
a rug spread out in front of a fireplace
From this reading He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
Hennessey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was the newcomer's voice, he was being conducted to his room by Hennessey.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Thanks, I can carry it myself."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Thanks, I can carry it myself."
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 He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
luggagenounUS /ˈlʌɡədʒ/
cases used to carry belongings when traveling
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Then a voice that made her start.
mantelpiecenoun
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading "Thanks, I can carry it myself."
newcomer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the newcomer's voice, he was being conducted to his room by Hennessey.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
Phyl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Then a voice that made her start.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
an acknowledgment of appreciation
From this reading "Thanks, I can carry it myself."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then a voice that made her start.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then a voice that made her start.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was the newcomer's voice, he was being conducted to his room by Hennessey.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Then a voice that made her start.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Hennessey had left the door open and she could hear a confused noise from the hall, the sound of luggage being brought in, the bustle of servants and a murmur of voices.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the newcomer's voice, he was being conducted to his room by Hennessey.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He left the room and Phyl, rising from the hearthrug, stood with her hand on the mantelpiece listening.
