used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautious that they made no sound.
arrasnoun
a wall hanging of heavy handwoven fabric often with pictorial designs
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
on or to one side
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading A young man seated beside a carved oak table, with his back towards her.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
see with attention
From this reading What did she behold?
next to; at the side of
From this reading A young man seated beside a carved oak table, with his back towards her.
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading A young man seated beside a carved oak table, with his back towards her.
cautiousadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːʃəs/
showing careful forethought
From this reading Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautious that they made no sound.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautious that they made no sound.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading What did she behold?
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A young man seated beside a carved oak table, with his back towards her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautious that they made no sound.
hear with intention
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautious that they made no sound.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A young man seated beside a carved oak table, with his back towards her.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautious that they made no sound.
not any; not one
From this reading Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautious that they made no sound.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
oaknounUS /oʊk/
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading A young man seated beside a carved oak table, with his back towards her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
on one occasion
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
perusalnounUS /pərˈuːzəl/
reading carefully with intent to remember
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautious that they made no sound.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
resumeverbUS /rɪˈzuːm/
take up or begin anew
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading A young man seated beside a carved oak table, with his back towards her.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautious that they made no sound.
with low volume
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautious that they made no sound.
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautious that they made no sound.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautious that they made no sound.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading A young man seated beside a carved oak table, with his back towards her.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautious that they made no sound.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautious that they made no sound.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Quick steps descended the narrow staircase--steps so light and cautious that they made no sound.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
in the direction of
From this reading A young man seated beside a carved oak table, with his back towards her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What did she behold?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was reading a letter, the contents of which seemed greatly to disturb him, for he more than once dashed it aside, and then compelled himself to resume its perusal.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A young man seated beside a carved oak table, with his back towards her.
woofnounUS /wuːf/
the yarn woven across the warp yarn in weaving
From this reading Before drawing aside the arras that covered the secret entrance to the chamber, the lady paused to listen; and hearing nothing to alarm her, she softly raised a corner of the woof and looked in.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading A young man seated beside a carved oak table, with his back towards her.
