used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Barry glanced up at the roof above them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Somewhat startled at Mac’s words, the others looked around the loft and then at each other.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Somewhat startled at Mac’s words, the others looked around the loft and then at each other.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Somewhat startled at Mac’s words, the others looked around the loft and then at each other.
Barry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Barry glanced up at the roof above them.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
comfortingadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmfərtɪŋ/
providing freedom from worry
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
let fall to the ground
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Somewhat startled at Mac’s words, the others looked around the loft and then at each other.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Barry glanced up at the roof above them.
gripnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
an opening into or through something
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It surely looks like Mac is right.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It surely looks like Mac is right.”
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “It surely looks like Mac is right.”
loftnounUS /lɔːft/
floor consisting of a large unpartitioned space over a factory or warehouse or other commercial space
From this reading Somewhat startled at Mac’s words, the others looked around the loft and then at each other.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Somewhat startled at Mac’s words, the others looked around the loft and then at each other.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading “It surely looks like Mac is right.”
MacnounUS /mæk/
a waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric
From this reading “It surely looks like Mac is right.”
Mac'snounUS /mæks/
possessive form of “mac” — a waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric
From this reading Somewhat startled at Mac’s words, the others looked around the loft and then at each other.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
not any; not one
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Somewhat startled at Mac’s words, the others looked around the loft and then at each other.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somewhat startled at Mac’s words, the others looked around the loft and then at each other.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
by chance
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
a human being
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
precisely, exactly
From this reading “It surely looks like Mac is right.”
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Barry glanced up at the roof above them.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
a particular situation
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Somewhat startled at Mac’s words, the others looked around the loft and then at each other.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Somewhat startled at Mac’s words, the others looked around the loft and then at each other.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading “It surely looks like Mac is right.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Somewhat startled at Mac’s words, the others looked around the loft and then at each other.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Barry glanced up at the roof above them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Somewhat startled at Mac’s words, the others looked around the loft and then at each other.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
uncertaintynounUS /ənˈsɜːrtənti/
being unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
not known
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Barry glanced up at the roof above them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “No hole there for this snow to drop through, and we haven’t any snow on our shoes,” he murmured.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The thought that some unknown person had been in the building, perhaps at the same time that they were downstairs, was not a comforting one, and they felt the grip of excitement and uncertainty.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Somewhat startled at Mac’s words, the others looked around the loft and then at each other.
