used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading If _they_ were not afraid to be up there, why should _she_ be afraid of the attic?
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
appreciateverbUS /əˈpriːʃieɪt/
recognize with gratitude; be grateful for
From this reading There might be things that some one outside the family could not appreciate.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
ATTICnounUS /ˈætɪk/
floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
bangingnounUS /ˈbæŋɪŋ/
a continuing very loud noise
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If _they_ were not afraid to be up there, why should _she_ be afraid of the attic?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
ChicknounUS /tʃɪk/
young bird especially of domestic fowl
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
clatteringverbUS /ˈklætərɪŋ/
-ing form of “clatter” — make a rattling sound
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There might be things that some one outside the family could not appreciate.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
a social unit living together
From this reading There might be things that some one outside the family could not appreciate.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
flightsnounUS /flaɪts/
plural of “flight” — a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
happilyadverbUS /ˈhæpəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If _they_ were not afraid to be up there, why should _she_ be afraid of the attic?
investigateverbUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪt/
investigate scientifically
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
JannounUS /dʒæn/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
Jannet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
Jinglingadjective
having a series of high-pitched ringing sounds like many small bells
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
and nothing more
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
keysnounUS /kiːz/
plural of “key” — metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There might be things that some one outside the family could not appreciate.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
Nell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If _they_ were not afraid to be up there, why should _she_ be afraid of the attic?
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
on one occasion
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There might be things that some one outside the family could not appreciate.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading There might be things that some one outside the family could not appreciate.
Paulina's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading If _they_ were not afraid to be up there, why should _she_ be afraid of the attic?
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There might be things that some one outside the family could not appreciate.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
in or at that place or location
From this reading If _they_ were not afraid to be up there, why should _she_ be afraid of the attic?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If _they_ were not afraid to be up there, why should _she_ be afraid of the attic?
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading There might be things that some one outside the family could not appreciate.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading More than once she had heard Jan and Chick clattering down the two flights, first the attic stairs, banging the door shut, then the back stairs from the second floor to the first.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If _they_ were not afraid to be up there, why should _she_ be afraid of the attic?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE OLD ATTIC Jingling her keys happily, Jannet went up the attic stairs, which led from the second floor back hall by a door not far from Paulina's room.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading If _they_ were not afraid to be up there, why should _she_ be afraid of the attic?
hope for; have a wish
From this reading She did wish for Nell, though on second thought she came to the conclusion that it was just as well for her to investigate alone first.
