Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

past form of “accentuate” — to stress, single out as important

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Unobserved and unrebuked, Keith joined her, and when he looked up at the sky, his heart almost stopped beating.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

the season when the leaves fall from the trees

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

the act of overcoming or outdoing

From this reading Unobserved and unrebuked, Keith joined her, and when he looked up at the sky, his heart almost stopped beating.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading "Please," Keith's mother cried at the top of her voice.

apart from; not including

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading Finally some one was heard passing through the lane itself.

shockingly repellent; inspiring horror

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

destroyed or killed

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Finally some one was heard passing through the lane itself.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading Unobserved and unrebuked, Keith joined her, and when he looked up at the sky, his heart almost stopped beating.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Unobserved and unrebuked, Keith joined her, and when he looked up at the sky, his heart almost stopped beating.

moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Finally some one was heard passing through the lane itself.

of or relating to two people who are married to each other

From this reading Unobserved and unrebuked, Keith joined her, and when he looked up at the sky, his heart almost stopped beating.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Unobserved and unrebuked, Keith joined her, and when he looked up at the sky, his heart almost stopped beating.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

a narrow way or road

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Unobserved and unrebuked, Keith joined her, and when he looked up at the sky, his heart almost stopped beating.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

and nothing more

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

occurring from time to time

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Finally some one was heard passing through the lane itself.

and nothing more

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading Finally some one was heard passing through the lane itself.

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading "Please," Keith's mother cried at the top of her voice.

past form of “reign” — have sovereign power

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading Unobserved and unrebuked, Keith joined her, and when he looked up at the sky, his heart almost stopped beating.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Finally some one was heard passing through the lane itself.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

(poetic) tranquil silence

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading Unobserved and unrebuked, Keith joined her, and when he looked up at the sky, his heart almost stopped beating.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Finally some one was heard passing through the lane itself.

the upper part of anything

From this reading A ghastly stillness reigned outside--except when it was merely accentuated by the occasional sound of hurried steps along the street at the top of the lane.

not seen or observed

From this reading Unobserved and unrebuked, Keith joined her, and when he looked up at the sky, his heart almost stopped beating.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Unobserved and unrebuked, Keith joined her, and when he looked up at the sky, his heart almost stopped beating.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Unobserved and unrebuked, Keith joined her, and when he looked up at the sky, his heart almost stopped beating.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading "Please," Keith's mother cried at the top of her voice.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.

at the time that

From this reading Unobserved and unrebuked, Keith joined her, and when he looked up at the sky, his heart almost stopped beating.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading In a minute more he was gone, and in the next second Keith's mother was at the window looking out, though she had only her night-linen on and it was late autumn.