adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
advancedadjectiveUS /ədˈvænst/
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading For one short second all things seemed to whiz about him; the certainty of detection overpowered his mind.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
armornounUS /ˈɑːrmər/
protective covering made of metal and used in combat
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
ascentnounUS /əˈsent/
an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
assurancenounUS /əˈʃʊrəns/
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
banisternounUS /ˈbænɪstər/
a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
beatingnounUS /ˈbiːtɪŋ/
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
becameverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
certaintynounUS /ˈsɜːrtənti/
the state of being certain
From this reading For one short second all things seemed to whiz about him; the certainty of detection overpowered his mind.
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading From the farther end of a well-lighted corridor a maid was coming straight in his direction.
confidencenounUS /ˈkɑːnfədəns/
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
considerationsnounUS /kənˌsɪdərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “consideration” — the process of giving careful thought to something
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading From the farther end of a well-lighted corridor a maid was coming straight in his direction.
despiteprepositionUS /dɪˈspaɪt/
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
detectionnounUS /dɪˈtekʃən/
the perception that something has occurred or some state exists
From this reading For one short second all things seemed to whiz about him; the certainty of detection overpowered his mind.
directionnounUS /dərˈekʃən/
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading From the farther end of a well-lighted corridor a maid was coming straight in his direction.
disproveverbUS /dɪˈspruːv/
prove to be false
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
dominatedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːməneɪtəd/
controlled or ruled by superior authority or power
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
dressverbUS /dres/
put on clothes
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
effronterynounUS /ɪˈfrʌntəri/
audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
endnounUS /end/
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading From the farther end of a well-lighted corridor a maid was coming straight in his direction.
falseadjectiveUS /fɔːls/
not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
fartheradjectiveUS /ˈfɑːrðər/
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading From the farther end of a well-lighted corridor a maid was coming straight in his direction.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
firmadjectiveUS /fɜːrm/
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For one short second all things seemed to whiz about him; the certainty of detection overpowered his mind.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the farther end of a well-lighted corridor a maid was coming straight in his direction.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
heartnounUS /hɑːrt/
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From the farther end of a well-lighted corridor a maid was coming straight in his direction.
indisputableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪsˈpjuːtəbəl/
not open to question; obviously true
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
knowledgenounUS /ˈnɑːlədʒ/
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
Loder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
maidnounUS /meɪd/
a female domestic
From this reading From the farther end of a well-lighted corridor a maid was coming straight in his direction.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading For one short second all things seemed to whiz about him; the certainty of detection overpowered his mind.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For one short second all things seemed to whiz about him; the certainty of detection overpowered his mind.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
overpoweredverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈpaʊərd/
past form of “overpower” — overcome by superior force
From this reading For one short second all things seemed to whiz about him; the certainty of detection overpowered his mind.
playedadjectiveUS /pleɪd/
(of games) engaged in
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
pulsesnounUS /ˈpʌlsɪz/
plural of “pulse” — (electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
quicklyadverbUS /ˈkwɪkli/
with speed
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading For one short second all things seemed to whiz about him; the certainty of detection overpowered his mind.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading For one short second all things seemed to whiz about him; the certainty of detection overpowered his mind.
seriousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪriəs/
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading For one short second all things seemed to whiz about him; the certainty of detection overpowered his mind.
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
stairsnounUS /sterz/
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
stepnounUS /step/
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
straightadjectiveUS /streɪt/
successive (without a break)
From this reading From the farther end of a well-lighted corridor a maid was coming straight in his direction.
strengthenedadjectiveUS /ˈstreŋθənd/
given added strength or support
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading For one short second all things seemed to whiz about him; the certainty of detection overpowered his mind.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
touchedadjectiveUS /tʌtʃt/
having come into contact
From this reading Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold banister and he began his ascent of the stairs.
tunenounUS /tuːn/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading But at each step his confidence strengthened, his feet became more firm; until, at the head of the stairs, as if to disprove his assurance, his pulses played him false once more, this time to a more serious tune.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading From the farther end of a well-lighted corridor a maid was coming straight in his direction.
well-lightedadjective
provided with artificial light
From this reading From the farther end of a well-lighted corridor a maid was coming straight in his direction.
whiznounUS /wɪz/
someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
From this reading For one short second all things seemed to whiz about him; the certainty of detection overpowered his mind.
