adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
attemptnounUS /əˈtempt/
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
boltsnounUS /boʊlts/
plural of “bolt” — a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading He had feared to find a padlock, but, to his infinite relief, his fingers closed upon two bolts.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had feared to find a padlock, but, to his infinite relief, his fingers closed upon two bolts.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
cheerverbUS /tʃɪr/
give encouragement to
From this reading He could hardly forego a cheer.
climbedverbUS /klaɪmd/
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading He had feared to find a padlock, but, to his infinite relief, his fingers closed upon two bolts.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
completeverbUS /kəmˈpliːt/
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
ConfidentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnfədənt/
having or marked by confidence or assurance
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could hardly forego a cheer.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
delightverbUS /dɪˈlaɪt/
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
escapenounUS /ɪˈskeɪp/
the act of escaping physically
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
faradverbUS /fɑːr/
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
fasteningsnounUS /ˈfæsənɪŋz/
plural of “fastening” — restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
fearedverbUS /fɪrd/
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading He had feared to find a padlock, but, to his infinite relief, his fingers closed upon two bolts.
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
findverbUS /faɪnd/
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He had feared to find a padlock, but, to his infinite relief, his fingers closed upon two bolts.
fingersnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərz/
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
flightnounUS /flaɪt/
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
FordnounUS /fɔːrd/
United States film maker (1896-1973)
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
foregoverbUS /fɔːrˈɡoʊ/
be earlier in time; go back further
From this reading He could hardly forego a cheer.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
hardlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdli/
only a very short time before
From this reading He could hardly forego a cheer.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
infiniteadjectiveUS /ˈɪnfənət/
having no limits or boundaries in time or space or extent or magnitude
From this reading He had feared to find a padlock, but, to his infinite relief, his fingers closed upon two bolts.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
ironnounUS /ˈaɪərn/
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
kitchennounUS /ˈkɪtʃən/
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
landingnounUS /ˈlændɪŋ/
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
leadingadjectiveUS /ˈliːdɪŋ/
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
linenounUS /laɪn/
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
lockedverbUS /lɑːkt/
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
mainadjectiveUS /meɪn/
most important element
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
meansnounUS /miːnz/
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
mountingnounUS /ˈmaʊntɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
padlocknounUS /ˈpædlɑːk/
a detachable lock; has a hinged shackle that can be passed through the staple of a hasp or the links in a chain and then snapped shut
From this reading He had feared to find a padlock, but, to his infinite relief, his fingers closed upon two bolts.
reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading He had feared to find a padlock, but, to his infinite relief, his fingers closed upon two bolts.
retreatnounUS /riˈtriːt/
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
roofnounUS /ruːf/
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
steppedverbUS /stept/
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
stepsnounUS /steps/
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
street-door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
superioradjectiveUS /suːˈpɪriər/
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
thirdnounUS /θɜːrd/
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
trapnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
trap-door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confident of this, he opened it, and found a dark, narrow landing, a flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below, and, to his delight an iron ladder leading to a trap-door.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He had feared to find a padlock, but, to his infinite relief, his fingers closed upon two bolts.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He had feared to find a padlock, but, to his infinite relief, his fingers closed upon two bolts.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If the trap-door were not locked, he had found a third line of retreat, a means of escape by way of the roof, far superior to any he might attempt by the main staircase and the street-door.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Ford stepped into the landing, closing the door behind him and though this left him in complete darkness, he climbed the ladder, and with eager fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap.
