used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
abruptadjectiveUS /əˈbrʌpt/
marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions
From this reading This passage made an abrupt turn to the left, and when they had cleared the corner they saw in its sides before them a gleam of light here and there.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This passage made an abrupt turn to the left, and when they had cleared the corner they saw in its sides before them a gleam of light here and there.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
ascendverbUS /əˈsend/
travel up
From this reading A little further on they touched the first step of a stair, and began to ascend its worn stone treads.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A little further on they touched the first step of a stair, and began to ascend its worn stone treads.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
circularadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrkjələr/
having the shape or form of a circle
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading This passage made an abrupt turn to the left, and when they had cleared the corner they saw in its sides before them a gleam of light here and there.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading This passage made an abrupt turn to the left, and when they had cleared the corner they saw in its sides before them a gleam of light here and there.
placed crosswise
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
fannedadjectiveUS /fænd/
especially spread in a fan shape
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
start firing a weapon
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A little further on they touched the first step of a stair, and began to ascend its worn stone treads.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
FRYINGnounUS /ˈfraɪɪŋ/
cooking in fat or oil in a pan or griddle
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading A little further on they touched the first step of a stair, and began to ascend its worn stone treads.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading This passage made an abrupt turn to the left, and when they had cleared the corner they saw in its sides before them a gleam of light here and there.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading They mounted some thirty steps, and touching the wall with their hands, moved onward along a passage.
hangingsnounUS /ˈhæŋɡɪŋz/
plural of “hanging” — decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading This passage made an abrupt turn to the left, and when they had cleared the corner they saw in its sides before them a gleam of light here and there.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A little further on they touched the first step of a stair, and began to ascend its worn stone treads.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading This passage made an abrupt turn to the left, and when they had cleared the corner they saw in its sides before them a gleam of light here and there.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little further on they touched the first step of a stair, and began to ascend its worn stone treads.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading This passage made an abrupt turn to the left, and when they had cleared the corner they saw in its sides before them a gleam of light here and there.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading They mounted some thirty steps, and touching the wall with their hands, moved onward along a passage.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading They mounted some thirty steps, and touching the wall with their hands, moved onward along a passage.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A little further on they touched the first step of a stair, and began to ascend its worn stone treads.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/
forward in time or order or degree
From this reading They mounted some thirty steps, and touching the wall with their hands, moved onward along a passage.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
PANverbUS /pæn/
make a sweeping movement
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
pitch-darkadjective
extremely dark
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
cut with a saw
From this reading This passage made an abrupt turn to the left, and when they had cleared the corner they saw in its sides before them a gleam of light here and there.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading This passage made an abrupt turn to the left, and when they had cleared the corner they saw in its sides before them a gleam of light here and there.
marked by correspondence or resemblance
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading They mounted some thirty steps, and touching the wall with their hands, moved onward along a passage.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading A little further on they touched the first step of a stair, and began to ascend its worn stone treads.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading A little further on they touched the first step of a stair, and began to ascend its worn stone treads.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading They mounted some thirty steps, and touching the wall with their hands, moved onward along a passage.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading A little further on they touched the first step of a stair, and began to ascend its worn stone treads.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
in or at that place or location
From this reading This passage made an abrupt turn to the left, and when they had cleared the corner they saw in its sides before them a gleam of light here and there.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading They mounted some thirty steps, and touching the wall with their hands, moved onward along a passage.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This passage made an abrupt turn to the left, and when they had cleared the corner they saw in its sides before them a gleam of light here and there.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
having come into contact
From this reading A little further on they touched the first step of a stair, and began to ascend its worn stone treads.
arousing affect
From this reading They mounted some thirty steps, and touching the wall with their hands, moved onward along a passage.
treadsnounUS /tredz/
plural of “tread” — a step in walking or running
From this reading A little further on they touched the first step of a stair, and began to ascend its worn stone treads.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading This passage made an abrupt turn to the left, and when they had cleared the corner they saw in its sides before them a gleam of light here and there.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading They mounted some thirty steps, and touching the wall with their hands, moved onward along a passage.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading As they felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound of rushing water came to them from below, and a cold breeze fanned their cheeks.
at the time that
From this reading This passage made an abrupt turn to the left, and when they had cleared the corner they saw in its sides before them a gleam of light here and there.
white-robed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN The white-robed figures, having left the room by a small circular door behind the hangings, followed the black servant along a pitch-dark passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, similar to the one they had crossed before.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They mounted some thirty steps, and touching the wall with their hands, moved onward along a passage.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading A little further on they touched the first step of a stair, and began to ascend its worn stone treads.
