used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Some one who had come racing up the stairs, now had inserted a key in the lock.
adjoiningverbUS /əˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjoin” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Open swung the door--and Nayland Smith entered, in a perfect whirl of excitement.
ANTI-CLIMAX
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Petrie!" he cried, and seized both my hands--"you have missed a night of nights!
chambersnounUS /ˈtʃeɪmbərz/
English architect (1723-1796)
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Some one who had come racing up the stairs, now had inserted a key in the lock.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Petrie!" he cried, and seized both my hands--"you have missed a night of nights!
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Open swung the door--and Nayland Smith entered, in a perfect whirl of excitement.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Open swung the door--and Nayland Smith entered, in a perfect whirl of excitement.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Open swung the door--and Nayland Smith entered, in a perfect whirl of excitement.
FleetnounUS /fliːt/
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Some one who had come racing up the stairs, now had inserted a key in the lock.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Petrie!" he cried, and seized both my hands--"you have missed a night of nights!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Petrie!" he cried, and seized both my hands--"you have missed a night of nights!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Petrie!" he cried, and seized both my hands--"you have missed a night of nights!
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
insertedverbUS /ˌɪnˈsɜːrtəd/
past form of “insert” — put or introduce into something
From this reading Some one who had come racing up the stairs, now had inserted a key in the lock.
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 Some one who had come racing up the stairs, now had inserted a key in the lock.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
fasten with a lock
From this reading Some one who had come racing up the stairs, now had inserted a key in the lock.
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading Petrie!" he cried, and seized both my hands--"you have missed a night of nights!
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Petrie!" he cried, and seized both my hands--"you have missed a night of nights!
Nayland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Open swung the door--and Nayland Smith entered, in a perfect whirl of excitement.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Petrie!" he cried, and seized both my hands--"you have missed a night of nights!
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading Petrie!" he cried, and seized both my hands--"you have missed a night of nights!
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Some one who had come racing up the stairs, now had inserted a key in the lock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Open swung the door--and Nayland Smith entered, in a perfect whirl of excitement.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading Open swung the door--and Nayland Smith entered, in a perfect whirl of excitement.
Petrie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Petrie!
racingnounUS /ˈreɪsɪŋ/
the sport of engaging in contests of speed
From this reading Some one who had come racing up the stairs, now had inserted a key in the lock.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Petrie!" he cried, and seized both my hands--"you have missed a night of nights!
Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading Open swung the door--and Nayland Smith entered, in a perfect whirl of excitement.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some one who had come racing up the stairs, now had inserted a key in the lock.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Some one who had come racing up the stairs, now had inserted a key in the lock.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Open swung the door--and Nayland Smith entered, in a perfect whirl of excitement.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN ANTI-CLIMAX One hour later I stood in the entrance hall of our chambers in the court adjoining Fleet Street.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Some one who had come racing up the stairs, now had inserted a key in the lock.
whirlverbUS /wɜːrl/
turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading Open swung the door--and Nayland Smith entered, in a perfect whirl of excitement.
which person or people
From this reading Some one who had come racing up the stairs, now had inserted a key in the lock.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Petrie!" he cried, and seized both my hands--"you have missed a night of nights!
