used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
perfect or complete or pure
From this reading There was silence, absolute silence, and darkness impenetrable.
acutenessnounUS /əˈkjuːtnəs/
a sensitivity that is keen and highly developed
From this reading Peter waited, breathless, listening, the one available sense sharpened to preternatural acuteness.
anew
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was silence, absolute silence, and darkness impenetrable.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
availableadjectiveUS /əˈveɪləbəl/
obtainable or accessible and ready for use or service
From this reading Peter waited, breathless, listening, the one available sense sharpened to preternatural acuteness.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Inch by inch, without a sound, Peter crept behind the storeroom door.
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading Peter waited, breathless, listening, the one available sense sharpened to preternatural acuteness.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Inch by inch, without a sound, Peter crept behind the storeroom door.
clickverbUS /klɪk/
move or strike with a noise
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Inch by inch, without a sound, Peter crept behind the storeroom door.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading There was silence, absolute silence, and darkness impenetrable.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
faintlyadverbUS /ˈfeɪntli/
to a faint degree or weakly perceived
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading "HANDS UP!"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
hingesnounUS /ˈhɪndʒɪz/
plural of “hinge” — a joint that holds two parts together so that one can swing relative to the other
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
impenetrableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading There was silence, absolute silence, and darkness impenetrable.
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading Inch by inch, without a sound, Peter crept behind the storeroom door.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading Peter waited, breathless, listening, the one available sense sharpened to preternatural acuteness.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Peter waited, breathless, listening, the one available sense sharpened to preternatural acuteness.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
perceptiblyadverb
in a noticeable manner
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading Peter waited, breathless, listening, the one available sense sharpened to preternatural acuteness.
preternaturaladjective
surpassing the ordinary or normal
From this reading Peter waited, breathless, listening, the one available sense sharpened to preternatural acuteness.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Peter waited, breathless, listening, the one available sense sharpened to preternatural acuteness.
sharpenedadjectiveUS /ˈʃɑːrpənd/
having the point made sharp
From this reading Peter waited, breathless, listening, the one available sense sharpened to preternatural acuteness.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading There was silence, absolute silence, and darkness impenetrable.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Inch by inch, without a sound, Peter crept behind the storeroom door.
stealingnounUS /ˈstiːlɪŋ/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
stealthyadjectiveUS /ˈstelθi/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
storeroomnounUS /ˈstɔːrruːm/
a room in which things are stored
From this reading Inch by inch, without a sound, Peter crept behind the storeroom door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Peter waited, breathless, listening, the one available sense sharpened to preternatural acuteness.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was silence, absolute silence, and darkness impenetrable.
very small
From this reading Then faintly, faintly he heard the outer door move on its hinges, heard a tiny click as it closed again, was aware of a little gleam of light stealing along the floor, and of stealthy footsteps, coming nearer and nearer, as the light perceptibly increased.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Peter waited, breathless, listening, the one available sense sharpened to preternatural acuteness.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "HANDS UP!"
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Peter waited, breathless, listening, the one available sense sharpened to preternatural acuteness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was silence, absolute silence, and darkness impenetrable.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Inch by inch, without a sound, Peter crept behind the storeroom door.
