used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Clutching his boots against his breast, with ridiculous caution for so fat a man, he tiptoed down the stairs.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading In the passage he listened and looked up, half expecting to see a head in curl-papers surveying him from across the banisters.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Clutching his boots against his breast, with ridiculous caution for so fat a man, he tiptoed down the stairs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the passage he listened and looked up, half expecting to see a head in curl-papers surveying him from across the banisters.
banisters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the passage he listened and looked up, half expecting to see a head in curl-papers surveying him from across the banisters.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading Clutching his boots against his breast, with ridiculous caution for so fat a man, he tiptoed down the stairs.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading Clutching his boots against his breast, with ridiculous caution for so fat a man, he tiptoed down the stairs.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Dawn had not yet broken.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mr. Grace rose by stealth.
cautionnounUS /ˈkɑːʃən/
the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger
From this reading Clutching his boots against his breast, with ridiculous caution for so fat a man, he tiptoed down the stairs.
clothing in general
From this reading He groped his way into his clothes in the darkness; he did not dare to light the gas.
ClutchingverbUS /ˈklʌtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Clutching his boots against his breast, with ridiculous caution for so fat a man, he tiptoed down the stairs.
curl-papers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the passage he listened and looked up, half expecting to see a head in curl-papers surveying him from across the banisters.
take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading He groped his way into his clothes in the darkness; he did not dare to light the gas.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He groped his way into his clothes in the darkness; he did not dare to light the gas.
the first light of day
From this reading Dawn had not yet broken.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He groped his way into his clothes in the darkness; he did not dare to light the gas.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Clutching his boots against his breast, with ridiculous caution for so fat a man, he tiptoed down the stairs.
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading In the passage he listened and looked up, half expecting to see a head in curl-papers surveying him from across the banisters.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading Clutching his boots against his breast, with ridiculous caution for so fat a man, he tiptoed down the stairs.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Clutching his boots against his breast, with ridiculous caution for so fat a man, he tiptoed down the stairs.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the passage he listened and looked up, half expecting to see a head in curl-papers surveying him from across the banisters.
gasnounUS /ɡæs/
the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity
From this reading He groped his way into his clothes in the darkness; he did not dare to light the gas.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading Mr. Grace rose by stealth.
gropedverbUS /ɡroʊpt/
past form of “grope” — feel about uncertainly or blindly
From this reading He groped his way into his clothes in the darkness; he did not dare to light the gas.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Dawn had not yet broken.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading In the passage he listened and looked up, half expecting to see a head in curl-papers surveying him from across the banisters.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He groped his way into his clothes in the darkness; he did not dare to light the gas.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading In the passage he listened and looked up, half expecting to see a head in curl-papers surveying him from across the banisters.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In the passage he listened and looked up, half expecting to see a head in curl-papers surveying him from across the banisters.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He groped his way into his clothes in the darkness; he did not dare to light the gas.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He groped his way into his clothes in the darkness; he did not dare to light the gas.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He groped his way into his clothes in the darkness; he did not dare to light the gas.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He groped his way into his clothes in the darkness; he did not dare to light the gas.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading In the passage he listened and looked up, half expecting to see a head in curl-papers surveying him from across the banisters.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading In the passage he listened and looked up, half expecting to see a head in curl-papers surveying him from across the banisters.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Clutching his boots against his breast, with ridiculous caution for so fat a man, he tiptoed down the stairs.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Grace rose by stealth.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Dawn had not yet broken.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading In the passage he listened and looked up, half expecting to see a head in curl-papers surveying him from across the banisters.
inspiring scornful pity
From this reading Clutching his boots against his breast, with ridiculous caution for so fat a man, he tiptoed down the stairs.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Mr. Grace rose by stealth.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading In the passage he listened and looked up, half expecting to see a head in curl-papers surveying him from across the banisters.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Clutching his boots against his breast, with ridiculous caution for so fat a man, he tiptoed down the stairs.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Clutching his boots against his breast, with ridiculous caution for so fat a man, he tiptoed down the stairs.
stealthnounUS /stelθ/
avoiding detection by moving carefully
From this reading Mr. Grace rose by stealth.
surveyingnounUS /sərˈveɪɪŋ/
the practice of measuring angles and distances on the ground so that they can be accurately plotted on a map
From this reading In the passage he listened and looked up, half expecting to see a head in curl-papers surveying him from across the banisters.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He groped his way into his clothes in the darkness; he did not dare to light the gas.
tiptoedverbUS /ˈtɪptoʊd/
past form of “tiptoe” — walk on one's toes
From this reading Clutching his boots against his breast, with ridiculous caution for so fat a man, he tiptoed down the stairs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He groped his way into his clothes in the darkness; he did not dare to light the gas.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading In the passage he listened and looked up, half expecting to see a head in curl-papers surveying him from across the banisters.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He groped his way into his clothes in the darkness; he did not dare to light the gas.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Clutching his boots against his breast, with ridiculous caution for so fat a man, he tiptoed down the stairs.
but in spite of that
From this reading Dawn had not yet broken.
