used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were those unpleasant odors which accumulate in a decaying house, the smell that suggests neglect.
accumulateverbUS /əˈkjuːmjəleɪt/
get or gather together
From this reading There were those unpleasant odors which accumulate in a decaying house, the smell that suggests neglect.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
ANSWERSnounUS /ˈænsərz/
plural of “answer” — a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
automaticallyadverbUS /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪkli/
in a reflex manner
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
broadnessnoun
the property of being wide; having great width
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
carpetedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːrpətɪd/
covered with or as if with carpeting or with carpeting as specified; often used in combination
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading When she closed the door the ringing stopped.
compressverbUS /ˈkɑːmpres/
make more compact by or as if by pressing
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
decayingverbUS /dɪˈkeɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “decay” — lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current
From this reading There were those unpleasant odors which accumulate in a decaying house, the smell that suggests neglect.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
furtivelyadverbUS /ˈfɜːrtɪvli/
in a furtive manner
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
gaspnounUS /ɡæsp/
a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
Gilmore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
haglike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There were those unpleasant odors which accumulate in a decaying house, the smell that suggests neglect.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
janglingadjective
like the discordant ringing of nonmusical metallic objects striking together
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
a particular point in time
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
muscularadjectiveUS /ˈmʌskjələr/
of or relating to or consisting of muscle
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
mustyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌsti/
covered with or smelling of mold
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
neglectverbUS /nəˈɡlekt/
leave undone or leave out
From this reading There were those unpleasant odors which accumulate in a decaying house, the smell that suggests neglect.
easily agitated
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
odorsnounUS /ˈoʊdərz/
plural of “odor” — any property detected by the olfactory system
From this reading There were those unpleasant odors which accumulate in a decaying house, the smell that suggests neglect.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
professionaladjectiveUS /prəˈfeʃənəl/
engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
raggedlyadverb
in a ragged uneven manner
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
shuttingnounUS /ˈʃʌtɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
slovenlyadjectiveUS /ˈslʌvənli/
negligent of neatness especially in dress and person; habitually dirty and unkempt
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading There were those unpleasant odors which accumulate in a decaying house, the smell that suggests neglect.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading When she closed the door the ringing stopped.
stragglingadjective
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
suggestsverbUS /səˈdʒests/
third-person singular of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading There were those unpleasant odors which accumulate in a decaying house, the smell that suggests neglect.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were those unpleasant odors which accumulate in a decaying house, the smell that suggests neglect.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading There were those unpleasant odors which accumulate in a decaying house, the smell that suggests neglect.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
unawareadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈwer/
(often followed by “of”) not aware
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading There were those unpleasant odors which accumulate in a decaying house, the smell that suggests neglect.
vestibulenounUS /ˈvestɪbjuːl/
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading HELEN ANSWERS HER LETTER Entirely unaware that she had been observed, Helen Gilmore slipped furtively into the dark, musty vestibule of the ugly house.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were those unpleasant odors which accumulate in a decaying house, the smell that suggests neglect.
at the time that
From this reading When she closed the door the ringing stopped.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were those unpleasant odors which accumulate in a decaying house, the smell that suggests neglect.
in the company of; together with
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The opening of the second door automatically set a bell ringing, an unpleasant jangling that caused the woman to start and compress her lips, shutting back the nervous gasp which rose in her throat.
wrestlernounUS /ˈresələr/
combatant who tries to throw opponent to the ground
From this reading After a wait of a moment there came down the raggedly carpeted stairs a slovenly and haglike female, with straggling hair of dirty gray and the shoulders of a professional wrestler in their muscular broadness.
