used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It had probably saved him from an unexpected attack in the dark.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading It had probably saved him from an unexpected attack in the dark.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
creakedverbUS /kriːkt/
past form of “creak” — make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It had probably saved him from an unexpected attack in the dark.
the act of discovering something
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The Phantom strained his ears.
at any time
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
exitnounUS /ˈeɡzɪt/
an opening that permits escape or release
From this reading A watcher--or were there two?--was standing just inside the window, guarding the exit.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It had probably saved him from an unexpected attack in the dark.
guardingverbUS /ˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “guard” — to keep watch over
From this reading A watcher--or were there two?--was standing just inside the window, guarding the exit.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Phantom strained his ears.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It had probably saved him from an unexpected attack in the dark.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading A watcher--or were there two?--was standing just inside the window, guarding the exit.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
and nothing more
From this reading A watcher--or were there two?--was standing just inside the window, guarding the exit.
something that is lost
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
muffleverbUS /ˈmʌfəl/
suppress in order to conceal or hide
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
nettledadjectiveUS /ˈnetəld/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A watcher--or were there two?--was standing just inside the window, guarding the exit.
PhantomnounUS /ˈfæn.təm/
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading The Phantom strained his ears.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading It had probably saved him from an unexpected attack in the dark.
promptedverbUS /ˈprɑːmptɪd/
past form of “prompt” — give an incentive for action
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading It had probably saved him from an unexpected attack in the dark.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
someone'snounUS /ˈsʌmwʌnz/
possessive form of “someone” — a human being
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
having a supporting base
From this reading A watcher--or were there two?--was standing just inside the window, guarding the exit.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading The Phantom strained his ears.
thankedverbUS /θæŋkt/
past form of “thank” — express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Phantom strained his ears.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A watcher--or were there two?--was standing just inside the window, guarding the exit.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A watcher--or were there two?--was standing just inside the window, guarding the exit.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading It had probably saved him from an unexpected attack in the dark.
a message informing of danger
From this reading The discovery nettled him, for it meant the loss of precious seconds, but he thanked the warning instinct that had prompted him to muffle his movements.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A watcher--or were there two?--was standing just inside the window, guarding the exit.
watchernounUS /ˈwɑːtʃər/
a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading A watcher--or were there two?--was standing just inside the window, guarding the exit.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading Faint sounds of breathing came to him; then a board creaked ever so slightly under someone's weight.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A watcher--or were there two?--was standing just inside the window, guarding the exit.
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 A watcher--or were there two?--was standing just inside the window, guarding the exit.
