used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NIGHT ALARM.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading A NIGHT ALARM.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Jack sat bolt upright in bed and listened with all his might.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Jack sat bolt upright in bed and listened with all his might.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His blood beat in his ear-drums as he sat tense and rigid, waiting a repetition of the noise.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading His blood beat in his ear-drums as he sat tense and rigid, waiting a repetition of the noise.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Jack sat bolt upright in bed and listened with all his might.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading His blood beat in his ear-drums as he sat tense and rigid, waiting a repetition of the noise.
boltnounUS /boʊlt/
a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading Jack sat bolt upright in bed and listened with all his might.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Suddenly, there came a low whisper from outside.
captain'snounUS /ˈkæptənz/
possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
a small house with a single story
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
ear-drums
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His blood beat in his ear-drums as he sat tense and rigid, waiting a repetition of the noise.
footfallnounUS /ˈfʊtfɔːl/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Suddenly, there came a low whisper from outside.
furtiveadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtɪv/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jack sat bolt upright in bed and listened with all his might.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Jack sat bolt upright in bed and listened with all his might.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Jack sat bolt upright in bed and listened with all his might.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Jack sat bolt upright in bed and listened with all his might.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Suddenly, there came a low whisper from outside.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Jack sat bolt upright in bed and listened with all his might.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A NIGHT ALARM.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading His blood beat in his ear-drums as he sat tense and rigid, waiting a repetition of the noise.
held or filled or in use
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
repetitionnounUS /ˌrepəˈtɪʃən/
an event that repeats
From this reading His blood beat in his ear-drums as he sat tense and rigid, waiting a repetition of the noise.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading His blood beat in his ear-drums as he sat tense and rigid, waiting a repetition of the noise.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Jack sat bolt upright in bed and listened with all his might.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly, there came a low whisper from outside.
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading His blood beat in his ear-drums as he sat tense and rigid, waiting a repetition of the noise.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Suddenly, there came a low whisper from outside.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading Jack sat bolt upright in bed and listened with all his might.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading His blood beat in his ear-drums as he sat tense and rigid, waiting a repetition of the noise.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading Suddenly, there came a low whisper from outside.
whisperings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Outside the window of the little room he occupied that night in the captain's cottage he was almost certain he had heard the sound of a furtive footfall and whisperings.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Jack sat bolt upright in bed and listened with all his might.
