used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He let himself silently into the house with his latch-key, and tiptoed up to his room.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He stole upstairs as guiltily as if he had been a naughty boy stealing sugar.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He stole upstairs as guiltily as if he had been a naughty boy stealing sugar.
a youthful male person
From this reading He stole upstairs as guiltily as if he had been a naughty boy stealing sugar.
the act of burning something
From this reading The light was burning low.
anything that covers or conceals
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
closetnounUS /ˈklɑːzət/
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
farthestadverbUS /ˈfɑːrðəst/
to the greatest distance in space or time (“farthest” is used more often than “furthest” in this physical sense)
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
garmentnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənt/
an article of clothing
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
in a gradual manner
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
guiltilyadverb
in the manner of someone who has committed an offense
From this reading He stole upstairs as guiltily as if he had been a naughty boy stealing sugar.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He stole upstairs as guiltily as if he had been a naughty boy stealing sugar.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
hat-box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He let himself silently into the house with his latch-key, and tiptoed up to his room.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He let himself silently into the house with his latch-key, and tiptoed up to his room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He let himself silently into the house with his latch-key, and tiptoed up to his room.
hookverbUS /hʊk/
fasten with a hook
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He let himself silently into the house with his latch-key, and tiptoed up to his room.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He stole upstairs as guiltily as if he had been a naughty boy stealing sugar.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
inconspicuousadjectiveUS /ˌɪŋˈkɑːnspɪkwəs/
not prominent or readily noticeable
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He let himself silently into the house with his latch-key, and tiptoed up to his room.
latch-key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He let himself silently into the house with his latch-key, and tiptoed up to his room.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He let himself silently into the house with his latch-key, and tiptoed up to his room.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The light was burning low.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
loopverbUS /luːp/
move in loops
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The light was burning low.
naughtyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːti/
suggestive of sexual impropriety
From this reading He stole upstairs as guiltily as if he had been a naughty boy stealing sugar.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
rain-coat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
releasedverbUS /riˈliːst/
past form of “release” — release, as from one's grip
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He let himself silently into the house with his latch-key, and tiptoed up to his room.
a particular situation
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
without speaking
From this reading He let himself silently into the house with his latch-key, and tiptoed up to his room.
move stealthily
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
slippingadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpɪŋ/
moving as on a slippery surface
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
with low volume
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
stealingnounUS /ˈstiːlɪŋ/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading He stole upstairs as guiltily as if he had been a naughty boy stealing sugar.
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading He stole upstairs as guiltily as if he had been a naughty boy stealing sugar.
sugarnounUS /ˈʃʊɡər/
a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative
From this reading He stole upstairs as guiltily as if he had been a naughty boy stealing sugar.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He let himself silently into the house with his latch-key, and tiptoed up to his room.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
tiptoedverbUS /ˈtɪptoʊd/
past form of “tiptoe” — walk on one's toes
From this reading He let himself silently into the house with his latch-key, and tiptoed up to his room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He let himself silently into the house with his latch-key, and tiptoed up to his room.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He let himself silently into the house with his latch-key, and tiptoed up to his room.
on a floor above
From this reading He stole upstairs as guiltily as if he had been a naughty boy stealing sugar.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading In utter darkness he felt around and finally hung the coat on a hook under another long cloak, then gently released the hanging loop and let the garment slip softly down in an inconspicuous heap on the floor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The light was burning low.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He put the hat-box in the farthest corner of his closet, then he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping off his shoes, went softly down to the hall closet.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He let himself silently into the house with his latch-key, and tiptoed up to his room.
