used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Rooms that were locked and barred he had read about in detective stories; they had been entered.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Rooms that were locked and barred he had read about in detective stories; they had been entered.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Shudders of superstitious fear shook Roger's nerves as he flung on his clothes.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Unless, and he caught at the idea, unless Doctor Ryder had been worked-up and nervous, and had dreamed some nightmare that had made him hide.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading Rooms that were locked and barred he had read about in detective stories; they had been entered.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Rooms that were locked and barred he had read about in detective stories; they had been entered.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
blocknounUS /blɑːk/
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Unless, and he caught at the idea, unless Doctor Ryder had been worked-up and nervous, and had dreamed some nightmare that had made him hide.
clothing in general
From this reading Shudders of superstitious fear shook Roger's nerves as he flung on his clothes.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Yet some uncanny, mysterious thing, force or creature had penetrated!
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading Rooms that were locked and barred he had read about in detective stories; they had been entered.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Unless, and he caught at the idea, unless Doctor Ryder had been worked-up and nervous, and had dreamed some nightmare that had made him hide.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading Unless, and he caught at the idea, unless Doctor Ryder had been worked-up and nervous, and had dreamed some nightmare that had made him hide.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Rooms that were locked and barred he had read about in detective stories; they had been entered.
divisible by two
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Shudders of superstitious fear shook Roger's nerves as he flung on his clothes.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Shudders of superstitious fear shook Roger's nerves as he flung on his clothes.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Yet some uncanny, mysterious thing, force or creature had penetrated!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Rooms that were locked and barred he had read about in detective stories; they had been entered.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Shudders of superstitious fear shook Roger's nerves as he flung on his clothes.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading Unless, and he caught at the idea, unless Doctor Ryder had been worked-up and nervous, and had dreamed some nightmare that had made him hide.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Unless, and he caught at the idea, unless Doctor Ryder had been worked-up and nervous, and had dreamed some nightmare that had made him hide.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Shudders of superstitious fear shook Roger's nerves as he flung on his clothes.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Unless, and he caught at the idea, unless Doctor Ryder had been worked-up and nervous, and had dreamed some nightmare that had made him hide.
impenetrableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Rooms that were locked and barred he had read about in detective stories; they had been entered.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading Rooms that were locked and barred he had read about in detective stories; they had been entered.
locksnounUS /lɑːks/
plural of “lock” — a fastener fitted to a door or drawer to keep it firmly closed
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Unless, and he caught at the idea, unless Doctor Ryder had been worked-up and nervous, and had dreamed some nightmare that had made him hide.
metalnounUS /ˈmetəl/
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
of an obscure nature
From this reading Yet some uncanny, mysterious thing, force or creature had penetrated!
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading Shudders of superstitious fear shook Roger's nerves as he flung on his clothes.
easily agitated
From this reading Unless, and he caught at the idea, unless Doctor Ryder had been worked-up and nervous, and had dreamed some nightmare that had made him hide.
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading Unless, and he caught at the idea, unless Doctor Ryder had been worked-up and nervous, and had dreamed some nightmare that had made him hide.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Shudders of superstitious fear shook Roger's nerves as he flung on his clothes.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Shudders of superstitious fear shook Roger's nerves as he flung on his clothes.
and nothing more
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
penetratedverbUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪd/
past form of “penetrate” — pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
From this reading Yet some uncanny, mysterious thing, force or creature had penetrated!
Potts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Rooms that were locked and barred he had read about in detective stories; they had been entered.
Roger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
Roger'snounUS /ˈrɑːdʒərz/
possessive form of “rogers” — United States humorist remembered for his homespun commentary on politics and American society (1879-1935)
From this reading Shudders of superstitious fear shook Roger's nerves as he flung on his clothes.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading Rooms that were locked and barred he had read about in detective stories; they had been entered.
Ryder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unless, and he caught at the idea, unless Doctor Ryder had been worked-up and nervous, and had dreamed some nightmare that had made him hide.
sealedadjectiveUS /siːld/
established irrevocably
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading Shudders of superstitious fear shook Roger's nerves as he flung on his clothes.
ShuddersnounUS /ˈʃʌdərz/
plural of “shudder” — an almost pleasurable sensation of fright
From this reading Shudders of superstitious fear shook Roger's nerves as he flung on his clothes.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Yet some uncanny, mysterious thing, force or creature had penetrated!
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Rooms that were locked and barred he had read about in detective stories; they had been entered.
superstitiousadjectiveUS /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃəs/
showing ignorance of the laws of nature and faith in magic or chance
From this reading Shudders of superstitious fear shook Roger's nerves as he flung on his clothes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Rooms that were locked and barred he had read about in detective stories; they had been entered.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Unless, and he caught at the idea, unless Doctor Ryder had been worked-up and nervous, and had dreamed some nightmare that had made him hide.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Rooms that were locked and barred he had read about in detective stories; they had been entered.
a special situation
From this reading Yet some uncanny, mysterious thing, force or creature had penetrated!
uncannyadjectiveUS /ənˈkæni/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading Yet some uncanny, mysterious thing, force or creature had penetrated!
except if; if not
From this reading Unless, and he caught at the idea, unless Doctor Ryder had been worked-up and nervous, and had dreamed some nightmare that had made him hide.
unsealedadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːld/
not established or confirmed
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A room not only so sealed but, far better, sealed by locks that not even Potts or Roger could have unsealed, was as impenetrable as a solid block of metal.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Rooms that were locked and barred he had read about in detective stories; they had been entered.
worked-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unless, and he caught at the idea, unless Doctor Ryder had been worked-up and nervous, and had dreamed some nightmare that had made him hide.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet some uncanny, mysterious thing, force or creature had penetrated!
