used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After a time I went to bed, but not to sleep.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a time I went to bed, but not to sleep.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I lay on my back staring straight at the ceiling.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading I lay on my back staring straight at the ceiling.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading After a time I went to bed, but not to sleep.
fearless and daring
From this reading I was young, bold, without nerves; so that I think I can truthfully say I was not in the least frightened.
boltedverbUS /ˈboʊltəd/
past form of “bolt” — move or jump suddenly
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading After a time I went to bed, but not to sleep.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I was young, bold, without nerves; so that I think I can truthfully say I was not in the least frightened.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I cannot deny I was nervous--or rather the whole situation was on my nerves.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading I lay on my back staring straight at the ceiling.
clatternounUS /ˈklætər/
a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
cunninglyadverb
in an attractive manner
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
declare untrue; contradict
From this reading But I cannot deny I was nervous--or rather the whole situation was on my nerves.
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
made afraid
From this reading I was young, bold, without nerves; so that I think I can truthfully say I was not in the least frightened.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading After a time I went to bed, but not to sleep.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I was young, bold, without nerves; so that I think I can truthfully say I was not in the least frightened.
intrudernounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdər/
someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
kickverbUS /kɪk/
drive or propel with the foot
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I lay on my back staring straight at the ceiling.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading I was young, bold, without nerves; so that I think I can truthfully say I was not in the least frightened.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading I was young, bold, without nerves; so that I think I can truthfully say I was not in the least frightened.
easily agitated
From this reading But I cannot deny I was nervous--or rather the whole situation was on my nerves.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading After a time I went to bed, but not to sleep.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But I cannot deny I was nervous--or rather the whole situation was on my nerves.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But I cannot deny I was nervous--or rather the whole situation was on my nerves.
pillownounUS /ˈpɪloʊ/
a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
on the contrary
From this reading But I cannot deny I was nervous--or rather the whole situation was on my nerves.
express in words
From this reading I was young, bold, without nerves; so that I think I can truthfully say I was not in the least frightened.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading But I cannot deny I was nervous--or rather the whole situation was on my nerves.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading After a time I went to bed, but not to sleep.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading I lay on my back staring straight at the ceiling.
successive (without a break)
From this reading I lay on my back staring straight at the ceiling.
stringnounUS /strɪŋ/
a lightweight cord
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading I was young, bold, without nerves; so that I think I can truthfully say I was not in the least frightened.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading After a time I went to bed, but not to sleep.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After a time I went to bed, but not to sleep.
truthfullyadverbUS /ˈtruːθfəli/
with truth
From this reading I was young, bold, without nerves; so that I think I can truthfully say I was not in the least frightened.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
except if; if not
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was young, bold, without nerves; so that I think I can truthfully say I was not in the least frightened.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading After a time I went to bed, but not to sleep.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading But I cannot deny I was nervous--or rather the whole situation was on my nerves.
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 I placed my gun under my pillow, locked and bolted the door, and arranged a string cunningly across the open window so that an intruder--unless he had extraordinary luck--could not have failed to kick up a devil of a clatter.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I was young, bold, without nerves; so that I think I can truthfully say I was not in the least frightened.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading I was young, bold, without nerves; so that I think I can truthfully say I was not in the least frightened.
