used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
agitationnounUS /ˌædʒəˈteɪʃən/
a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance
From this reading She stood in the front doorway, staring in agitation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
ascendedverbUS /əˈsendɪd/
past form of “ascend” — travel up
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading To his consternation he heard Mary coming.
consternationnounUS /ˌkɑːnstərˈneɪʃən/
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading To his consternation he heard Mary coming.
creakedverbUS /kriːkt/
past form of “creak” — make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading She stood in the front doorway, staring in agitation.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
entertainingadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnɪŋ/
agreeably diverting
From this reading The parlor was lighted, and he knew that Mary was there, entertaining her visitor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
gravelnounUS /ˈɡrævəl/
rock fragments and pebbles
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
grindingnounUS /ˈɡraɪndɪŋ/
material resulting from the process of grinding
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The parlor was lighted, and he knew that Mary was there, entertaining her visitor.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading To his consternation he heard Mary coming.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The parlor was lighted, and he knew that Mary was there, entertaining her visitor.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The parlor was lighted, and he knew that Mary was there, entertaining her visitor.
set afire or burning
From this reading The parlor was lighted, and he knew that Mary was there, entertaining her visitor.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading The parlor was lighted, and he knew that Mary was there, entertaining her visitor.
noiselesslyadverb
without a sound
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading The parlor was lighted, and he knew that Mary was there, entertaining her visitor.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
precautionaryadjectiveUS /prɪˈkɔːʃəneri/
taken in advance to protect against possible danger or failure
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She stood in the front doorway, staring in agitation.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
skirtedverbUS /ˈskɜːrtɪd/
past form of “skirt” — avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
stableadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪbəl/
resistant to change of position or condition
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading She stood in the front doorway, staring in agitation.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading She stood in the front doorway, staring in agitation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The parlor was lighted, and he knew that Mary was there, entertaining her visitor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The parlor was lighted, and he knew that Mary was there, entertaining her visitor.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
thicketnounUS /ˈθɪkɪt/
a dense growth of bushes
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
treadverbUS /tred/
put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
someone who visits
From this reading The parlor was lighted, and he knew that Mary was there, entertaining her visitor.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading He tried to walk noiselessly, but his tread made a low grinding sound on the gravel, and the broken steps creaked as he ascended them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The parlor was lighted, and he knew that Mary was there, entertaining her visitor.
at the time that
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading When they had disappeared in the barn, Charles, for precautionary reasons, skirted the stable lot, plunged into the thicket at the side of the house, and entered the yard at the front gate.
