used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
ajaradjectiveUS /əˈdʒɑːr/
slightly open
From this reading He looked over his shoulder at the door which he had left ajar.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Cal Maggard sat gazing into the blaze that leaped and eddied fitfully under the blackened chimney.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looked over his shoulder at the door which he had left ajar.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
blackenedadjectiveUS /ˈblækənd/
darkened by smoke
From this reading Cal Maggard sat gazing into the blaze that leaped and eddied fitfully under the blackened chimney.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading Cal Maggard sat gazing into the blaze that leaped and eddied fitfully under the blackened chimney.
Cal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal Maggard sat gazing into the blaze that leaped and eddied fitfully under the blackened chimney.
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading Cal Maggard sat gazing into the blaze that leaped and eddied fitfully under the blackened chimney.
circledverbUS /ˈsɜːrkəld/
past form of “circle” — travel around something
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
concessionnounUS /kənˈseʃən/
a contract granting the right to operate a subsidiary business
From this reading That much was his concession to the danger of the threat, and it was the only concession he meant to make.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading That much was his concession to the danger of the threat, and it was the only concession he meant to make.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
droopedverbUS /druːpt/
past form of “droop” — droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
eddied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal Maggard sat gazing into the blaze that leaped and eddied fitfully under the blackened chimney.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
fitfullyadverbUS /ˈfɪtfəli/
in a fitful manner
From this reading Cal Maggard sat gazing into the blaze that leaped and eddied fitfully under the blackened chimney.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
set up or found
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Cal Maggard sat gazing into the blaze that leaped and eddied fitfully under the blackened chimney.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
the act of retaining something
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Cal Maggard sat gazing into the blaze that leaped and eddied fitfully under the blackened chimney.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Cal Maggard sat gazing into the blaze that leaped and eddied fitfully under the blackened chimney.
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 He looked over his shoulder at the door which he had left ajar.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked over his shoulder at the door which he had left ajar.
Maggard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cal Maggard sat gazing into the blaze that leaped and eddied fitfully under the blackened chimney.
engage in
From this reading That much was his concession to the danger of the threat, and it was the only concession he meant to make.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading That much was his concession to the danger of the threat, and it was the only concession he meant to make.
moonlitadjectiveUS /ˈmuːnlɪt/
lighted by moonlight
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading That much was his concession to the danger of the threat, and it was the only concession he meant to make.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
and nothing more
From this reading That much was his concession to the danger of the threat, and it was the only concession he meant to make.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He looked over his shoulder at the door which he had left ajar.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
the activity of protecting someone or something
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Cal Maggard sat gazing into the blaze that leaped and eddied fitfully under the blackened chimney.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading He looked over his shoulder at the door which he had left ajar.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
slitnounUS /slɪt/
a long narrow opening
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
stripverbUS /strɪp/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Cal Maggard sat gazing into the blaze that leaped and eddied fitfully under the blackened chimney.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Cal Maggard sat gazing into the blaze that leaped and eddied fitfully under the blackened chimney.
threatnounUS /θret/
something that is a source of danger
From this reading That much was his concession to the danger of the threat, and it was the only concession he meant to make.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Cal Maggard sat gazing into the blaze that leaped and eddied fitfully under the blackened chimney.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
plural of “wall” — 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 Through its slit he could see a moonlit strip of sky, and rising slowly he circled the room, holding the protection of the shadowy walls until he reached and barred it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That much was his concession to the danger of the threat, and it was the only concession he meant to make.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In one hand drooped the sheet of paper that he had found fastened to his door and in the other the pipe which had been forgotten and had died.
