used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
anew
From this reading Again Förster’s voice and Tanya’s in reply.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A man’s laugh--Herr Förster’s, and in the room with him, Tanya!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
automaticadjectiveUS /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/
operating with minimal human intervention; independent of external control
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
the lower side of anything
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
an act that fails
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
Förster's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man’s laugh--Herr Förster’s, and in the room with him, Tanya!
the act of departing
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
HerrnounUS /her/
a German man; used before the name as a title equivalent to Mr in English
From this reading A man’s laugh--Herr Förster’s, and in the room with him, Tanya!
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A man’s laugh--Herr Förster’s, and in the room with him, Tanya!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
impotentadjectiveUS /ˈɪmpətənt/
lacking power or ability
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A man’s laugh--Herr Förster’s, and in the room with him, Tanya!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
the sound of laughing
From this reading A man’s laugh--Herr Förster’s, and in the room with him, Tanya!
hear with intention
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A man’s laugh--Herr Förster’s, and in the room with him, Tanya!
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
minimumnounUS /ˈmɪnəməm/
the smallest possible quantity
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
not any; not one
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
on the contrary
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
reduceverbUS /rəˈduːs/
cut down on; make a reduction in
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading Again Förster’s voice and Tanya’s in reply.
free from harm or evil
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A man’s laugh--Herr Förster’s, and in the room with him, Tanya!
Rowland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
Tanya
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man’s laugh--Herr Förster’s, and in the room with him, Tanya!
Tanya's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Again Förster’s voice and Tanya’s in reply.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
underneathprepositionUS /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/
directly under, often hidden by what is above
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Again Förster’s voice and Tanya’s in reply.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
weighingnounUS /ˈweɪɪŋ/
careful consideration
From this reading This task was to be more difficult and Rowland felt rather pleased that it was to be so, for the impotent old man underneath the dining room table was already weighing on his conscience.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Up the stairs he climbed, but he drew his automatic now for no matter what happened he was going to reduce the chances of failure to a minimum.
in the company of; together with
From this reading RESCUE With a heart beating high Rowland paused at the bottom of the flight of stairs to listen.
