used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading There was nothing in the room to alarm her, and her thoughts flew back to the face of the man she had seen in the street outside.
alterationnounUS /ˌɔːltərˈeɪʃən/
an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
any thing at all
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The owner of the face had leered at first, and then his glance hardened into suspicion as he looked.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The owner of the face had leered at first, and then his glance hardened into suspicion as he looked.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading There was nothing in the room to alarm her, and her thoughts flew back to the face of the man she had seen in the street outside.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When she hurried past him he had shifted his position to stare at her by the light of the street lamp.
contournounUS /ˈkɑːntʊr/
a line drawn on a map connecting points of equal height
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
opinion or judgment
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading There was nothing in the room to alarm her, and her thoughts flew back to the face of the man she had seen in the street outside.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The owner of the face had leered at first, and then his glance hardened into suspicion as he looked.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading There was nothing in the room to alarm her, and her thoughts flew back to the face of the man she had seen in the street outside.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading The owner of the face had leered at first, and then his glance hardened into suspicion as he looked.
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
hardenedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdənd/
used of persons; emotionally hardened
From this reading The owner of the face had leered at first, and then his glance hardened into suspicion as he looked.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The owner of the face had leered at first, and then his glance hardened into suspicion as he looked.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When she hurried past him he had shifted his position to stare at her by the light of the street lamp.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The owner of the face had leered at first, and then his glance hardened into suspicion as he looked.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading When she hurried past him he had shifted his position to stare at her by the light of the street lamp.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
instinctiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪv/
unthinking; prompted by (or as if by) instinct
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The owner of the face had leered at first, and then his glance hardened into suspicion as he looked.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading When she hurried past him he had shifted his position to stare at her by the light of the street lamp.
leered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The owner of the face had leered at first, and then his glance hardened into suspicion as he looked.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading When she hurried past him he had shifted his position to stare at her by the light of the street lamp.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The owner of the face had leered at first, and then his glance hardened into suspicion as he looked.
lurkingverbUS /ˈlɜːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “lurk” — lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading There was nothing in the room to alarm her, and her thoughts flew back to the face of the man she had seen in the street outside.
noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing in the room to alarm her, and her thoughts flew back to the face of the man she had seen in the street outside.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading There was nothing in the room to alarm her, and her thoughts flew back to the face of the man she had seen in the street outside.
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading The owner of the face had leered at first, and then his glance hardened into suspicion as he looked.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading When she hurried past him he had shifted his position to stare at her by the light of the street lamp.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading When she hurried past him he had shifted his position to stare at her by the light of the street lamp.
with speed
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading There was nothing in the room to alarm her, and her thoughts flew back to the face of the man she had seen in the street outside.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
shiftedverbUS /ˈʃɪftɪd/
past form of “shift” — make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading When she hurried past him he had shifted his position to stare at her by the light of the street lamp.
Sisily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
stareverbUS /ster/
look at with fixed eyes
From this reading When she hurried past him he had shifted his position to stare at her by the light of the street lamp.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading There was nothing in the room to alarm her, and her thoughts flew back to the face of the man she had seen in the street outside.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading The owner of the face had leered at first, and then his glance hardened into suspicion as he looked.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The owner of the face had leered at first, and then his glance hardened into suspicion as he looked.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading There was nothing in the room to alarm her, and her thoughts flew back to the face of the man she had seen in the street outside.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was nothing in the room to alarm her, and her thoughts flew back to the face of the man she had seen in the street outside.
at the time that
From this reading She did not expect to see anything there, but she had reached the stage of instinctive terror when one fears lurking shadows, unexpected noises, or an imagined alteration in the contour of familiar things.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a beating heart Sisily gained the shelter of her room and locked the door, her eyes glancing quickly around her.
