used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The middle of the floor was occupied by a spacious central hall furnished as a parlor and lit by a skylight.
absorbverbUS /əbˈzɔːrb/
become imbued
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The middle of the floor was occupied by a spacious central hall furnished as a parlor and lit by a skylight.
ascendedverbUS /əˈsendɪd/
past form of “ascend” — travel up
From this reading She ascended with delicate carefulness letting her weight come gradually on each step.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the top she stood, subduing her deep-drawn breaths, looking, listening.
boardsnounUS /bɔːrdz/
(used in the plural) the stage of a theater
From this reading Despite her precautions the boards creaked.
breathsnounUS /breθs/
plural of “breath” — the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading At the top she stood, subduing her deep-drawn breaths, looking, listening.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The middle of the floor was occupied by a spacious central hall furnished as a parlor and lit by a skylight.
carefulnessnounUS /ˈkerfəlnes/
the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger
From this reading She ascended with delicate carefulness letting her weight come gradually on each step.
centraladjectiveUS /ˈsentrəl/
serving as an essential component
From this reading The middle of the floor was occupied by a spacious central hall furnished as a parlor and lit by a skylight.
charyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɑːri/
characterized by great caution and wariness
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She ascended with delicate carefulness letting her weight come gradually on each step.
creakedverbUS /kriːkt/
past form of “creak” — make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading Despite her precautions the boards creaked.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
deep-drawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the top she stood, subduing her deep-drawn breaths, looking, listening.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading She ascended with delicate carefulness letting her weight come gradually on each step.
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading Despite her precautions the boards creaked.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading She ascended with delicate carefulness letting her weight come gradually on each step.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The middle of the floor was occupied by a spacious central hall furnished as a parlor and lit by a skylight.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading The middle of the floor was occupied by a spacious central hall furnished as a parlor and lit by a skylight.
in a gradual manner
From this reading She ascended with delicate carefulness letting her weight come gradually on each step.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The middle of the floor was occupied by a spacious central hall furnished as a parlor and lit by a skylight.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She ascended with delicate carefulness letting her weight come gradually on each step.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
property that is leased or rented out or let
From this reading She ascended with delicate carefulness letting her weight come gradually on each step.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading At the top she stood, subduing her deep-drawn breaths, looking, listening.
provided with artificial light
From this reading The middle of the floor was occupied by a spacious central hall furnished as a parlor and lit by a skylight.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading At the top she stood, subduing her deep-drawn breaths, looking, listening.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading The middle of the floor was occupied by a spacious central hall furnished as a parlor and lit by a skylight.
held or filled or in use
From this reading The middle of the floor was occupied by a spacious central hall furnished as a parlor and lit by a skylight.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The middle of the floor was occupied by a spacious central hall furnished as a parlor and lit by a skylight.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She ascended with delicate carefulness letting her weight come gradually on each step.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading The middle of the floor was occupied by a spacious central hall furnished as a parlor and lit by a skylight.
portentouslyadverb
in a portentous manner
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
precautionsnounUS /priˈkɔːʃənz/
plural of “precaution” — a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.
From this reading Despite her precautions the boards creaked.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She ascended with delicate carefulness letting her weight come gradually on each step.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
skylightnounUS /ˈskaɪlaɪt/
a window in a roof to admit daylight
From this reading The middle of the floor was occupied by a spacious central hall furnished as a parlor and lit by a skylight.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
spaciousadjectiveUS /ˈspeɪʃəs/
very large in expanse or scope
From this reading The middle of the floor was occupied by a spacious central hall furnished as a parlor and lit by a skylight.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading She ascended with delicate carefulness letting her weight come gradually on each step.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading At the top she stood, subduing her deep-drawn breaths, looking, listening.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
subduingverbUS /səbˈduːɪŋ/
-ing form of “subdue” — put down by force or intimidation
From this reading At the top she stood, subduing her deep-drawn breaths, looking, listening.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Despite her precautions the boards creaked.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
the upper part of anything
From this reading At the top she stood, subduing her deep-drawn breaths, looking, listening.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The middle of the floor was occupied by a spacious central hall furnished as a parlor and lit by a skylight.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading She ascended with delicate carefulness letting her weight come gradually on each step.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The sounds seemed portentously loud in the deep quiet and she stopped for the silence to absorb them, and then, with chary foot, went on.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She ascended with delicate carefulness letting her weight come gradually on each step.
