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 Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

later than; following

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

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

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

measured by an angle or by the rate of change of an angle

From this reading His mother was a woman of the people, angular and taciturn.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading Jonas' father was a compositor--a tall, lank, hollow-eyed man with a bad cough.

having branches

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

a young person of either sex

From this reading And there lived Jonas, the only other child in the house during Keith's earliest years.

one who sets written material into type

From this reading Jonas' father was a compositor--a tall, lank, hollow-eyed man with a bad cough.

exhale abruptly, as when one has a chest cold or congestion

From this reading Jonas' father was a compositor--a tall, lank, hollow-eyed man with a bad cough.

An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading And there lived Jonas, the only other child in the house during Keith's earliest years.

(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early

From this reading And there lived Jonas, the only other child in the house during Keith's earliest years.

a social unit living together

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Jonas' father was a compositor--a tall, lank, hollow-eyed man with a bad cough.

footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

plural of “floor” — the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

following the third position; number four in a countable series

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

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

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

plural of “hinge” — a joint that holds two parts together so that one can swing relative to the other

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

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

From this reading His mother was a woman of the people, angular and taciturn.

characteristic of the bony face of a cadaver

From this reading Jonas' father was a compositor--a tall, lank, hollow-eyed man with a bad cough.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading And there lived Jonas, the only other child in the house during Keith's earliest years.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

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

From this reading And there lived Jonas, the only other child in the house during Keith's earliest years.

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

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

From this reading And there lived Jonas, the only other child in the house during Keith's earliest years.

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

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

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

From this reading And there lived Jonas, the only other child in the house during Keith's earliest years.

a narrow way or road

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

long and thin and often limp

From this reading Jonas' father was a compositor--a tall, lank, hollow-eyed man with a bad cough.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

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

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Jonas' father was a compositor--a tall, lank, hollow-eyed man with a bad cough.

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

From this reading His mother was a woman of the people, angular and taciturn.

held or filled or in use

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

and nothing more

From this reading And there lived Jonas, the only other child in the house during Keith's earliest years.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading And there lived Jonas, the only other child in the house during Keith's earliest years.

the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading His mother was a woman of the people, angular and taciturn.

move with force

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

the back of a military formation or procession

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

precisely, exactly

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

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

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

past form of “squeak” — make a high-pitched, screeching noise

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

not moving or operating freely

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

successive (without a break)

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

habitually reserved and uncommunicative

From this reading His mother was a woman of the people, angular and taciturn.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Jonas' father was a compositor--a tall, lank, hollow-eyed man with a bad cough.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

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

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

in or at that place or location

From this reading And there lived Jonas, the only other child in the house during Keith's earliest years.

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

in an uncanny manner

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

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

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

in or at the place that

From this reading The flats on the second and third floors ran straight through from the lane to the rear building, but on the fourth floor, where Keith lived, another family occupied the rooms looking upon the courtyard.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Jonas' father was a compositor--a tall, lank, hollow-eyed man with a bad cough.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading His mother was a woman of the people, angular and taciturn.

a late time of life

From this reading And there lived Jonas, the only other child in the house during Keith's earliest years.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Branching to the right, at the foot of the stairs, was another passage from which the cellar was reached after you had used all your strength to push open a huge iron door that squeaked uncannily on its stiff hinges.