the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Slowly, Doug straightened, descended the stairs with Dot's trembling body still in his arms.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The boys knelt at either side of her, Doug himself before her.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The boys knelt at either side of her, Doug himself before her.
bitsnounUS /bɪts/
plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Slowly, Doug straightened, descended the stairs with Dot's trembling body still in his arms.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys stood motionless.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
crushverbUS /krʌʃ/
come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading Slowly, Doug straightened, descended the stairs with Dot's trembling body still in his arms.
Dot's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly, Doug straightened, descended the stairs with Dot's trembling body still in his arms.
Doug
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly, Doug straightened, descended the stairs with Dot's trembling body still in his arms.
Doug's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Gently, he put her down.
one or the other of two
From this reading The boys knelt at either side of her, Doug himself before her.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Gently, he put her down.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Gently, he put her down.
to a considerable degree
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Gently, he put her down.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The boys knelt at either side of her, Doug himself before her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Slowly, Doug straightened, descended the stairs with Dot's trembling body still in his arms.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Slowly, Doug straightened, descended the stairs with Dot's trembling body still in his arms.
kneltverbUS /nelt/
inflected form of “kneel” — rest one's weight on one's knees
From this reading The boys knelt at either side of her, Doug himself before her.
staying power
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
not in physical motion
From this reading The boys stood motionless.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
and nothing more
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
power-pack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Gently, he put her down.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
robotnounUS /ˈroʊbɑːt/
a mechanism that can move automatically
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
scatterverbUS /ˈskætər/
to cause to separate and go in different directions
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
shatteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃætərd/
ruined or disrupted
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The boys knelt at either side of her, Doug himself before her.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly, Doug straightened, descended the stairs with Dot's trembling body still in his arms.
sobbingnounUS /ˈsɑːbɪŋ/
convulsive gasp made while weeping
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
stairnounUS /ster/
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Slowly, Doug straightened, descended the stairs with Dot's trembling body still in his arms.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
not in physical motion
From this reading Slowly, Doug straightened, descended the stairs with Dot's trembling body still in his arms.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The boys stood motionless.
straightenedverbUS /ˈstreɪtənd/
past form of “straighten” — straighten up or out; make straight
From this reading Slowly, Doug straightened, descended the stairs with Dot's trembling body still in his arms.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Slowly, Doug straightened, descended the stairs with Dot's trembling body still in his arms.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
treadsnounUS /tredz/
plural of “tread” — a step in walking or running
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
a shaky motion
From this reading Slowly, Doug straightened, descended the stairs with Dot's trembling body still in his arms.
tubesnounUS /tuːbz/
plural of “tube” — conduit consisting of a long hollow object (usually cylindrical) used to hold and conduct objects or liquids or gases
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
underfootadverbUS /ˌʌndərˈfʊt/
under the feet
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was only the sound of Dot's quiet sobbing, and that of Doug's boots as they struck hollow sounds from the steel stair treads, moved heavily as though fitted to the legs of an awkward robot to scatter the shattered bits of the power-pack tubes and crush them as they came underfoot.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Slowly, Doug straightened, descended the stairs with Dot's trembling body still in his arms.
