used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had about completed dressing when a knock sounded on his door, and he crossed the room and, turning the key, threw it open.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
astiradjective
out of bed
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the remainder of the night had proved uneventful.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading He had about completed dressing when a knock sounded on his door, and he crossed the room and, turning the key, threw it open.
crampedadjectiveUS /kræmpt/
constricted in size
From this reading UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
placed crosswise
From this reading He had about completed dressing when a knock sounded on his door, and he crossed the room and, turning the key, threw it open.
CurtisnounUS /ˈkɜːrtəs/
English botanical writer and publisher (1746-1799)
From this reading UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He had about completed dressing when a knock sounded on his door, and he crossed the room and, turning the key, threw it open.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading He had about completed dressing when a knock sounded on his door, and he crossed the room and, turning the key, threw it open.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
interminableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrmənəbəl/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had about completed dressing when a knock sounded on his door, and he crossed the room and, turning the key, threw it open.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading He had about completed dressing when a knock sounded on his door, and he crossed the room and, turning the key, threw it open.
fasten with a lock
From this reading UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
of an obscure nature
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading But the remainder of the night had proved uneventful.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He had about completed dressing when a knock sounded on his door, and he crossed the room and, turning the key, threw it open.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
established beyond doubt
From this reading But the remainder of the night had proved uneventful.
remaindernounUS /rɪˈmeɪndər/
something left after other parts have been taken away
From this reading But the remainder of the night had proved uneventful.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He had about completed dressing when a knock sounded on his door, and he crossed the room and, turning the key, threw it open.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
Identical; not different.
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading He had about completed dressing when a knock sounded on his door, and he crossed the room and, turning the key, threw it open.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading He had about completed dressing when a knock sounded on his door, and he crossed the room and, turning the key, threw it open.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading He had about completed dressing when a knock sounded on his door, and he crossed the room and, turning the key, threw it open.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
uneventfuladjectiveUS /ˌʌniˈventfəl/
marked by no noteworthy or significant events
From this reading But the remainder of the night had proved uneventful.
someone who visits
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
watchfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɑːtʃfəl/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He had sat in the same position for what seemed to him interminable hours, waiting in watchful silence for the return of his mysterious visitor.
at the time that
From this reading He had about completed dressing when a knock sounded on his door, and he crossed the room and, turning the key, threw it open.
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 UNDER LOCK AND KEY David Curtis rose from his seat by the window and stretched his cramped muscles.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The servants were astir early and he heard doors and windows being opened on the lower floor as they went about their work.
