used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
ajaradjectiveUS /əˈdʒɑːr/
slightly open
From this reading Prelice cursed under his moustache, and ran into the passage to close the outer door, which he now remembered he had foolishly left ajar.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Almost immediately his voice, tense with terror, was heard shouting the news of his discovery to the revellers on the stairs.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
from appearances alone
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
automaticallyadverbUS /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪkli/
in a reflex manner
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before Prelice could spring forward, he gasped and fled.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Prelice cursed under his moustache, and ran into the passage to close the outer door, which he now remembered he had foolishly left ajar.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before Prelice could spring forward, he gasped and fled.
cursedadjectiveUS /kɜːrst/
deserving a curse; sometimes used as an intensifier
From this reading Prelice cursed under his moustache, and ran into the passage to close the outer door, which he now remembered he had foolishly left ajar.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
the act of discovering something
From this reading Almost immediately his voice, tense with terror, was heard shouting the news of his discovery to the revellers on the stairs.
dominonounUS /ˈdɑːmənoʊ/
United States rhythm and blues pianist and singer and composer (born in 1928)
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
inflected form of “flee” — run away quickly
From this reading Before Prelice could spring forward, he gasped and fled.
foolishlyadverbUS /ˈfuːlɪʃli/
without good sense or judgment
From this reading Prelice cursed under his moustache, and ran into the passage to close the outer door, which he now remembered he had foolishly left ajar.
footstepnounUS /ˈfʊtstep/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Before Prelice could spring forward, he gasped and fled.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading Before Prelice could spring forward, he gasped and fled.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Prelice cursed under his moustache, and ran into the passage to close the outer door, which he now remembered he had foolishly left ajar.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Almost immediately his voice, tense with terror, was heard shouting the news of his discovery to the revellers on the stairs.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Almost immediately his voice, tense with terror, was heard shouting the news of his discovery to the revellers on the stairs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Prelice cursed under his moustache, and ran into the passage to close the outer door, which he now remembered he had foolishly left ajar.
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 Prelice cursed under his moustache, and ran into the passage to close the outer door, which he now remembered he had foolishly left ajar.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
maskedadjectiveUS /mæskt/
having its true character concealed with the intent of misleading
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
the force of workers available
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
a particular point in time
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
momentaryadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊmənteri/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
moustachenounUS /ˈmʌstæʃ/
an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip
From this reading Prelice cursed under his moustache, and ran into the passage to close the outer door, which he now remembered he had foolishly left ajar.
murderernounUS /ˈmɜːrdərər/
a criminal who commits homicide (who performs the unlawful premeditated killing of another human being)
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
new-comer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
information about recent and important events
From this reading Almost immediately his voice, tense with terror, was heard shouting the news of his discovery to the revellers on the stairs.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Prelice cursed under his moustache, and ran into the passage to close the outer door, which he now remembered he had foolishly left ajar.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Almost immediately his voice, tense with terror, was heard shouting the news of his discovery to the revellers on the stairs.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading Prelice cursed under his moustache, and ran into the passage to close the outer door, which he now remembered he had foolishly left ajar.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading Prelice cursed under his moustache, and ran into the passage to close the outer door, which he now remembered he had foolishly left ajar.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
Prelice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Prelice cursed under his moustache, and ran into the passage to close the outer door, which he now remembered he had foolishly left ajar.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading Prelice cursed under his moustache, and ran into the passage to close the outer door, which he now remembered he had foolishly left ajar.
revellersnounUS /ˈrevələrz/
plural of “reveller” — a celebrant who shares in a noisy party
From this reading Almost immediately his voice, tense with terror, was heard shouting the news of his discovery to the revellers on the stairs.
past form of “rouse” — become active
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators
From this reading Almost immediately his voice, tense with terror, was heard shouting the news of his discovery to the revellers on the stairs.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
the season of growth
From this reading Before Prelice could spring forward, he gasped and fled.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Almost immediately his voice, tense with terror, was heard shouting the news of his discovery to the revellers on the stairs.
stupornounUS /ˈstuːpər/
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
swayingverbUS /ˈsweɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading Almost immediately his voice, tense with terror, was heard shouting the news of his discovery to the revellers on the stairs.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading Almost immediately his voice, tense with terror, was heard shouting the news of his discovery to the revellers on the stairs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But the sight of the two apparently dead men, and the presence of their possible murderer, seemed to sober the new-comer in a single moment.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Prelice cursed under his moustache, and ran into the passage to close the outer door, which he now remembered he had foolishly left ajar.
unsteadyadjectiveUS /ənˈstedi/
subject to change or variation
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Almost immediately his voice, tense with terror, was heard shouting the news of his discovery to the revellers on the stairs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Almost immediately his voice, tense with terror, was heard shouting the news of his discovery to the revellers on the stairs.
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
wheeledadjectiveUS /wiːld/
having wheels; often used in combination
From this reading An unsteady footstep roused Lord Prelice from his momentary stupor, and he wheeled automatically to see a little man, masked, and wearing a black silk domino, swaying to and fro at the open dining-room door.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Prelice cursed under his moustache, and ran into the passage to close the outer door, which he now remembered he had foolishly left ajar.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Almost immediately his voice, tense with terror, was heard shouting the news of his discovery to the revellers on the stairs.
