18
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About eleven o’clock I got up and made my way again to the basement.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
anew
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
(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 It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
basementnounUS /ˈbeɪsmənt/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading About eleven o’clock I got up and made my way again to the basement.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I was sure that Higgins was in his room, for where else would he be at that hour?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the surroundings were not those to encourage persistence on my part.
ChristendomnounUS /ˈkrɪsəndəm/
the collective body of Christians throughout the world and history (found predominantly in Europe and the Americas and Australia)
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
composeverbUS /kəmˈpoʊz/
form the substance of
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
being one more than ten
From this reading About eleven o’clock I got up and made my way again to the basement.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was sure that Higgins was in his room, for where else would he be at that hour?
make void or empty of contents
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
encourageverbUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒ/
contribute to the progress or growth of
From this reading But the surroundings were not those to encourage persistence on my part.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
furnacenounUS /ˈfɜːrnəs/
an enclosed chamber in which heat is produced to heat buildings, destroy refuse, smelt or refine ores, etc.
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
ghostsnounUS /ɡoʊsts/
plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading About eleven o’clock I got up and made my way again to the basement.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I was sure that Higgins was in his room, for where else would he be at that hour?
Higgins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
Higgins's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I was sure that Higgins was in his room, for where else would he be at that hour?
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading I was sure that Higgins was in his room, for where else would he be at that hour?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading About eleven o’clock I got up and made my way again to the basement.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading About eleven o’clock I got up and made my way again to the basement.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading About eleven o’clock I got up and made my way again to the basement.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But the surroundings were not those to encourage persistence on my part.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading But the surroundings were not those to encourage persistence on my part.
persistencenounUS /pərˈsɪstəns/
the property of a continuous and connected period of time
From this reading But the surroundings were not those to encourage persistence on my part.
precipitouslyadverbUS /ˌpriːˈsɪpɪtəsli/
very suddenly and to a great degree
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
prowlingverbUS /ˈpraʊlɪŋ/
-ing form of “prowl” — move about in or as if in a predatory manner
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
retreatednounUS /riˈtriːtəd/
people who have retreated
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
spookyadjectiveUS /ˈspuːki/
unpredictably excitable (especially of horses)
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
not in physical motion
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading I was sure that Higgins was in his room, for where else would he be at that hour?
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading But the surroundings were not those to encourage persistence on my part.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading About eleven o’clock I got up and made my way again to the basement.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
thereaboutsadverbUS /ˌðerəˈbaʊts/
near that time or date
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading But the surroundings were not those to encourage persistence on my part.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading About eleven o’clock I got up and made my way again to the basement.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading About eleven o’clock I got up and made my way again to the basement.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
in or at the place that
From this reading I was sure that Higgins was in his room, for where else would he be at that hour?
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It was dark and spooky and very empty down there and after knocking at Higgins’s door a few times and feeling, while I waited for the reply that did not come, as if all the ghosts in Christendom were prowling in the furnace room and thereabouts, I retreated precipitously to my own room.
winkverbUS /wɪŋk/
signal by winking
From this reading Room 18 Again Still feeling that I must get hold of Higgins, it was hard to compose myself to rest and I didn’t sleep a wink.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I was sure that Higgins was in his room, for where else would he be at that hour?
