used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading And Rowland obeyed quickly, aware that the sound of shots would soon have the hornets about their ears.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Herr Markov already stood upright by the window, listening.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Rowland started, wide awake at once, but a gesture from his host halted him.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading Rowland started, wide awake at once, but a gesture from his host halted him.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading And Rowland obeyed quickly, aware that the sound of shots would soon have the hornets about their ears.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Rowland started, wide awake at once, but a gesture from his host halted him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading "Under the couch," he whispered, "the covers will hide you."
coversnounUS /ˈkʌvərz/
plural of “cover” — a covering that serves to conceal or shelter something
From this reading "Under the couch," he whispered, "the covers will hide you."
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading And Rowland obeyed quickly, aware that the sound of shots would soon have the hornets about their ears.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Rowland started, wide awake at once, but a gesture from his host halted him.
motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading Rowland started, wide awake at once, but a gesture from his host halted him.
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading Rowland started, wide awake at once, but a gesture from his host halted him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And Rowland obeyed quickly, aware that the sound of shots would soon have the hornets about their ears.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Under the couch," he whispered, "the covers will hide you."
HerrnounUS /her/
a German man; used before the name as a title equivalent to Mr in English
From this reading Herr Markov already stood upright by the window, listening.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading "Under the couch," he whispered, "the covers will hide you."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Rowland started, wide awake at once, but a gesture from his host halted him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Rowland started, wide awake at once, but a gesture from his host halted him.
hornetsnounUS /ˈhɔːrnəts/
plural of “hornet” — large stinging paper wasp
From this reading And Rowland obeyed quickly, aware that the sound of shots would soon have the hornets about their ears.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading Rowland started, wide awake at once, but a gesture from his host halted him.
without good reason
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading Herr Markov already stood upright by the window, listening.
MarkovnounUS /ˈmɑːrkoʊv/
Russian mathematician (1856-1922)
From this reading Herr Markov already stood upright by the window, listening.
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading And Rowland obeyed quickly, aware that the sound of shots would soon have the hornets about their ears.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
on one occasion
From this reading Rowland started, wide awake at once, but a gesture from his host halted him.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
with speed
From this reading And Rowland obeyed quickly, aware that the sound of shots would soon have the hornets about their ears.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
Rowland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
scufflingverbUS /ˈskʌfəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “scuffle” — walk by dragging one's feet
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
shotsnounUS /ʃɑːts/
plural of “shot” — the act of firing a projectile
From this reading And Rowland obeyed quickly, aware that the sound of shots would soon have the hornets about their ears.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
in the near future
From this reading And Rowland obeyed quickly, aware that the sound of shots would soon have the hornets about their ears.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Rowland started, wide awake at once, but a gesture from his host halted him.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Herr Markov already stood upright by the window, listening.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And Rowland obeyed quickly, aware that the sound of shots would soon have the hornets about their ears.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading And Rowland obeyed quickly, aware that the sound of shots would soon have the hornets about their ears.
tilesnounUS /taɪlz/
plural of “tile” — a flat thin rectangular slab (as of fired clay or rubber or linoleum) used to cover surfaces
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading "Under the couch," he whispered, "the covers will hide you."
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading Herr Markov already stood upright by the window, listening.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ESCAPE Rowland slept lightly and was awakened by a sound overhead, a scuffling upon the tiles of the roof.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading "Under the couch," he whispered, "the covers will hide you."
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Rowland started, wide awake at once, but a gesture from his host halted him.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Under the couch," he whispered, "the covers will hide you."
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Herr Markov already stood upright by the window, listening.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And Rowland obeyed quickly, aware that the sound of shots would soon have the hornets about their ears.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Under the couch," he whispered, "the covers will hide you."
