used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It has ever since been to me a matter for wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that distance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
react verbally
From this reading THE ANSWER TO THE BELL.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
apprehensionnounUS /ˌæprɪˈhenʃən/
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading THE ANSWER TO THE BELL.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading It has ever since been to me a matter for wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that distance.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading It has ever since been to me a matter for wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that distance.
encasedadjectiveUS /enˈkeɪst/
covered or protected with or as if with a case
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
at any time
From this reading It has ever since been to me a matter for wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that distance.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading We stood transfixed with fear.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading It has ever since been to me a matter for wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that distance.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It has ever since been to me a matter for wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that distance.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It has ever since been to me a matter for wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that distance.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It has ever since been to me a matter for wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that distance.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
judgedverbUS /dʒʌdʒd/
past form of “judge” — determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It has ever since been to me a matter for wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that distance.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It has ever since been to me a matter for wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that distance.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It has ever since been to me a matter for wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that distance.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading It has ever since been to me a matter for wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that distance.
reliancenounUS /rɪˈlaɪəns/
certainty based on past experience
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
a particular situation
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It has ever since been to me a matter for wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that distance.
slippersnounUS /ˈslɪpərz/
plural of “slipper” — low footwear that can be slipped on and off easily; usually worn indoors
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It has ever since been to me a matter for wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that distance.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading We stood transfixed with fear.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ANSWER TO THE BELL.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE ANSWER TO THE BELL.
transfixedadjectiveUS /trænˈsfɪkst/
having your attention fixated as though by a spell
From this reading We stood transfixed with fear.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was very faint, and I judged--though in such circumstances but small reliance could be placed upon any judgment I may have formed--that if human feet produced it they must have been encased in soft shoes or slippers.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We stood transfixed with fear.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As I have said, we were on the second floor, and the sound which now filled us with apprehension proceeded from the lower part of the house.
in the company of; together with
From this reading We stood transfixed with fear.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading It has ever since been to me a matter for wonder how a sound so fine could have reached our ears from that distance.
