used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then, gradually she became aware of a stir outside the door.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading Then, gradually she became aware of a stir outside the door.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Then, gradually she became aware of a stir outside the door.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
an occurrence of something
From this reading She could hear their footsteps and even their voices plainly, for she had left the door open a crack to hear Ethel’s step in case she should come.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could hear their footsteps and even their voices plainly, for she had left the door open a crack to hear Ethel’s step in case she should come.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading She could hear their footsteps and even their voices plainly, for she had left the door open a crack to hear Ethel’s step in case she should come.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Then, gradually she became aware of a stir outside the door.
Ethel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
Ethel's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could hear their footsteps and even their voices plainly, for she had left the door open a crack to hear Ethel’s step in case she should come.
divisible by two
From this reading She could hear their footsteps and even their voices plainly, for she had left the door open a crack to hear Ethel’s step in case she should come.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
fastenverbUS /ˈfæsən/
cause to be firmly attached
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading She could hear their footsteps and even their voices plainly, for she had left the door open a crack to hear Ethel’s step in case she should come.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The girls were returning in groups.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Then, gradually she became aware of a stir outside the door.
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading The girls were returning in groups.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading She could hear their footsteps and even their voices plainly, for she had left the door open a crack to hear Ethel’s step in case she should come.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The girls were returning in groups.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
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 She could hear their footsteps and even their voices plainly, for she had left the door open a crack to hear Ethel’s step in case she should come.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
for more time
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then, gradually she became aware of a stir outside the door.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading She could hear their footsteps and even their voices plainly, for she had left the door open a crack to hear Ethel’s step in case she should come.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Then, gradually she became aware of a stir outside the door.
OUTSIDERSnounUS /aʊtˈsaɪdərz/
plural of “outsider” — someone who is excluded from or is not a member of a group
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading She could hear their footsteps and even their voices plainly, for she had left the door open a crack to hear Ethel’s step in case she should come.
one of four equal parts
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading The girls were returning in groups.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She could hear their footsteps and even their voices plainly, for she had left the door open a crack to hear Ethel’s step in case she should come.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading She could hear their footsteps and even their voices plainly, for she had left the door open a crack to hear Ethel’s step in case she should come.
move an implement through
From this reading Then, gradually she became aware of a stir outside the door.
carry out
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She could hear their footsteps and even their voices plainly, for she had left the door open a crack to hear Ethel’s step in case she should come.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, gradually she became aware of a stir outside the door.
in or at that place or location
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading She could hear their footsteps and even their voices plainly, for she had left the door open a crack to hear Ethel’s step in case she should come.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The girls were returning in groups.
at the time that
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
the act of creating written works
From this reading “It may take longer than they expected,” she kept telling herself over and over, as she tried to fasten her attention on the letter she was writing to her aunt.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading OUTSIDERS When quarter after three came and Ethel had not come to the room for Ruth, she thought there must be something wrong.
