used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Presently, I heard a scuffling noise.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Nearer came the sounds, and then I saw something come up above the sill, and clutch at the broken window-frame.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there, waiting.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading It caught a piece of the woodwork; and, now, I could make out that it was a hand and arm.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Nearer came the sounds, and then I saw something come up above the sill, and clutch at the broken window-frame.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading From where I stood in the shadow, I could see, without being seen.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Nearer came the sounds, and then I saw something come up above the sill, and clutch at the broken window-frame.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Nearer came the sounds, and then I saw something come up above the sill, and clutch at the broken window-frame.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading It caught a piece of the woodwork; and, now, I could make out that it was a hand and arm.
clutchnounUS /klʌtʃ/
the act of grasping
From this reading Nearer came the sounds, and then I saw something come up above the sill, and clutch at the broken window-frame.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Nearer came the sounds, and then I saw something come up above the sill, and clutch at the broken window-frame.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From where I stood in the shadow, I could see, without being seen.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From where I stood in the shadow, I could see, without being seen.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading It caught a piece of the woodwork; and, now, I could make out that it was a hand and arm.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Presently, I heard a scuffling noise.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there, waiting.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From where I stood in the shadow, I could see, without being seen.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It caught a piece of the woodwork; and, now, I could make out that it was a hand and arm.
engage in
From this reading It caught a piece of the woodwork; and, now, I could make out that it was a hand and arm.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Nearer came the sounds, and then I saw something come up above the sill, and clutch at the broken window-frame.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading Presently, I heard a scuffling noise.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It caught a piece of the woodwork; and, now, I could make out that it was a hand and arm.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there, waiting.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there, waiting.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It caught a piece of the woodwork; and, now, I could make out that it was a hand and arm.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading It caught a piece of the woodwork; and, now, I could make out that it was a hand and arm.
in the near future
From this reading Presently, I heard a scuffling noise.
reloadedverbUS /ˌriːˈloʊdɪd/
past form of “reload” — load anew
From this reading Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there, waiting.
cut with a saw
From this reading Nearer came the sounds, and then I saw something come up above the sill, and clutch at the broken window-frame.
scufflingverbUS /ˈskʌfəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “scuffle” — walk by dragging one's feet
From this reading Presently, I heard a scuffling noise.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading From where I stood in the shadow, I could see, without being seen.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading From where I stood in the shadow, I could see, without being seen.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading From where I stood in the shadow, I could see, without being seen.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there, waiting.
sillnounUS /sɪl/
structural member consisting of a continuous horizontal timber forming the lowest member of a framework or supporting structure
From this reading Nearer came the sounds, and then I saw something come up above the sill, and clutch at the broken window-frame.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Nearer came the sounds, and then I saw something come up above the sill, and clutch at the broken window-frame.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Nearer came the sounds, and then I saw something come up above the sill, and clutch at the broken window-frame.
SteppingverbUS /ˈstepɪŋ/
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there, waiting.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there, waiting.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It caught a piece of the woodwork; and, now, I could make out that it was a hand and arm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there, waiting.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there, waiting.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there, waiting.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there, waiting.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Nearer came the sounds, and then I saw something come up above the sill, and clutch at the broken window-frame.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there, waiting.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It caught a piece of the woodwork; and, now, I could make out that it was a hand and arm.
in or at the place that
From this reading From where I stood in the shadow, I could see, without being seen.
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 Stepping to one side of the window, I reloaded, and then stood there, waiting.
window-frame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nearer came the sounds, and then I saw something come up above the sill, and clutch at the broken window-frame.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading From where I stood in the shadow, I could see, without being seen.
woodworknounUS /ˈwʊdwɜːrk/
work made of wood; especially moldings or stairways or furniture
From this reading It caught a piece of the woodwork; and, now, I could make out that it was a hand and arm.
