adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The explanation came a week later.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
apartmentnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənt/
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Can I come in?” he asked.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Stroeve stood before me.
bellnounUS /bel/
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The explanation came a week later.
Canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “Can I come in?” he asked.
clocknounUS /klɑːk/
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Can I come in?” he asked.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me.
crackedadjectiveUS /krækt/
used of skin roughened as a result of cold or exposure
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
dimnessnoun
the state of being poorly illuminated
From this reading In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
explanationnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃən/
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading The explanation came a week later.
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Can I come in?” he asked.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
landingnounUS /ˈlændɪŋ/
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me.
lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading The explanation came a week later.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Stroeve stood before me.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me.
onounUS /oʊ/
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
readingnounUS /ˈriːdɪŋ/
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
restaurantnounUS /ˈrestərɑːnt/
a building where people go to eat
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me.
sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Stroeve stood before me.
Stroeve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stroeve stood before me.
surprisedadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzd/
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me.
tennounUS /ten/
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The explanation came a week later.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me.
tinklingadjectiveUS /ˈtɪŋkəlɪŋ/
like the short high ringing sound of a small bell
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was about ten o’ clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door.
weeknounUS /wiːk/
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading The explanation came a week later.
welladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me.
