used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading From any other floor he could be summoned by alarm bells.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading From any other floor he could be summoned by alarm bells.
any person at all
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading From any other floor he could be summoned by alarm bells.
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading From any other floor he could be summoned by alarm bells.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
the lower side of anything
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading From any other floor he could be summoned by alarm bells.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
climbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From any other floor he could be summoned by alarm bells.
dismissedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmɪst/
having lost your job
From this reading After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
effectuallyadverb
in an effectual manner
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading From any other floor he could be summoned by alarm bells.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From any other floor he could be summoned by alarm bells.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
destroyed or killed
From this reading After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From any other floor he could be summoned by alarm bells.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
imprisonedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprɪzənd/
being in captivity
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But there were no push-buttons in the tower.
janitornounUS /ˈdʒænətər/
someone employed to clean and maintain a building
From this reading After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
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 After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
not any; not one
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
no person; not anyone
From this reading After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading From any other floor he could be summoned by alarm bells.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
premisesnounUS /ˈpreməsəz/
land and the buildings on it
From this reading After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
pupilsnounUS /ˈpjuːpəlz/
plural of “pupil” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
Purt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
push-buttons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there were no push-buttons in the tower.
rainbownounUS /ˈreɪnboʊ/
an arc of colored light in the sky caused by refraction of the sun's rays by rain
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
an educational institution
From this reading After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
summonedverbUS /ˈsʌmənd/
past form of “summon” — call in an official matter, such as to attend court
From this reading From any other floor he could be summoned by alarm bells.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
teachersnounUS /ˈtiːtʃərz/
plural of “teacher” — a person whose occupation is teaching
From this reading After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading But there were no push-buttons in the tower.
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the girls climbing the stairs to see the rainbow had no idea that anybody below was playing a trick on them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading After school was dismissed and the pupils left the building, and the teachers were gone, there was nobody but old John, the janitor, on the premises.
at the time that
From this reading Therefore, when Purt Sweet turned the key, and stole away from the door at the bottom of the tower stairs, he had imprisoned the five girls as effectually as though they were in the tower of some ancient castle.
