used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
AMARANTHnounUS /ˈæmərænθ/
seed of amaranth plants used as a native cereal in Central and South America
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading I took a few steps forward, stretching out my hands to feel if any obstacle were in the way.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Looking back, I could not even discern the heavy curtain that had dropped soundlessly behind me.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Looking back, I could not even discern the heavy curtain that had dropped soundlessly behind me.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Looking back, I could not even discern the heavy curtain that had dropped soundlessly behind me.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Looking back, I could not even discern the heavy curtain that had dropped soundlessly behind me.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
discernverbUS /dɪˈsɜːrn/
detect with the senses
From this reading Looking back, I could not even discern the heavy curtain that had dropped soundlessly behind me.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Looking back, I could not even discern the heavy curtain that had dropped soundlessly behind me.
elevatornounUS /ˈeləveɪtər/
lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
divisible by two
From this reading Looking back, I could not even discern the heavy curtain that had dropped soundlessly behind me.
opinion or judgment
From this reading I strained my eyes, striving to penetrate the gloom.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading I took a few steps forward, stretching out my hands to feel if any obstacle were in the way.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading I took a few steps forward, stretching out my hands to feel if any obstacle were in the way.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading I took a few steps forward, stretching out my hands to feel if any obstacle were in the way.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading I strained my eyes, striving to penetrate the gloom.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading I took a few steps forward, stretching out my hands to feel if any obstacle were in the way.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Looking back, I could not even discern the heavy curtain that had dropped soundlessly behind me.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I took a few steps forward, stretching out my hands to feel if any obstacle were in the way.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I took a few steps forward, stretching out my hands to feel if any obstacle were in the way.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
set afire or burning
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Looking back, I could not even discern the heavy curtain that had dropped soundlessly behind me.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I strained my eyes, striving to penetrate the gloom.
negronounUS /ˈniːɡroʊ/
a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
obstaclenounUS /ˈɑːbstəkəl/
something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted
From this reading I took a few steps forward, stretching out my hands to feel if any obstacle were in the way.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
penetrateverbUS /ˈpenətreɪt/
pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
From this reading I strained my eyes, striving to penetrate the gloom.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
soundlesslyadverb
without a sound
From this reading Looking back, I could not even discern the heavy curtain that had dropped soundlessly behind me.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading I took a few steps forward, stretching out my hands to feel if any obstacle were in the way.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading I strained my eyes, striving to penetrate the gloom.
stretchingnounUS /ˈstretʃɪŋ/
act of expanding by lengthening or widening
From this reading I took a few steps forward, stretching out my hands to feel if any obstacle were in the way.
strivingnounUS /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading I strained my eyes, striving to penetrate the gloom.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AMARANTH I stepped out of the elevator into a part of the Palace that I had not seen before.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I strained my eyes, striving to penetrate the gloom.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading I took a few steps forward, stretching out my hands to feel if any obstacle were in the way.
usheredverbUS /ˈʌʃərd/
past form of “usher” — take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading I took a few steps forward, stretching out my hands to feel if any obstacle were in the way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I took a few steps forward, stretching out my hands to feel if any obstacle were in the way.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The room into which the waiting negro ushered me was completely dark, though a thin line of light at the further end showed me that there was a lighted room beyond.
