Chapter XIX · The Tracks at the Door

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

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

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

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

later than; following

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

(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 The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

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

From this reading He had entered by the rear wagon road and passed into the shrubbery without attracting the attention of the servants.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading He had entered by the rear wagon road and passed into the shrubbery without attracting the attention of the servants.

-ing form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes

From this reading He had entered by the rear wagon road and passed into the shrubbery without attracting the attention of the servants.

large room used mainly for dancing

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He had entered by the rear wagon road and passed into the shrubbery without attracting the attention of the servants.

taking care or paying attention

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

a police officer who investigates crimes

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

a drawing intended to explain how something works; a drawing showing the relation between the parts

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

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

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading He had entered by the rear wagon road and passed into the shrubbery without attracting the attention of the servants.

something that provides access (to get in or get out)

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

plural of “entrance” — something that provides access (to get in or get out)

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

plural of “exit” — an opening that permits escape or release

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

opinion or judgment

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

set up or found

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

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

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading She showed him the way to the underground passage through the niche in the rear of the vault, and in ten minutes Ackerman entered the hall through the panel under the stairs.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

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

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

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

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading She showed him the way to the underground passage through the niche in the rear of the vault, and in ten minutes Ackerman entered the hall through the panel under the stairs.

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

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

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

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

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

From this reading She showed him the way to the underground passage through the niche in the rear of the vault, and in ten minutes Ackerman entered the hall through the panel under the stairs.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He had entered by the rear wagon road and passed into the shrubbery without attracting the attention of the servants.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

determine the result of (a competition)

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

a field of cultivated and mowed grass

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

having notes of fixed rhythmic value

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

a position particularly well suited to the person who occupies it

From this reading She showed him the way to the underground passage through the niche in the rear of the vault, and in ten minutes Ackerman entered the hall through the panel under the stairs.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something

From this reading She showed him the way to the underground passage through the niche in the rear of the vault, and in ten minutes Ackerman entered the hall through the panel under the stairs.

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

From this reading She showed him the way to the underground passage through the niche in the rear of the vault, and in ten minutes Ackerman entered the hall through the panel under the stairs.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading He had entered by the rear wagon road and passed into the shrubbery without attracting the attention of the servants.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

the back of a military formation or procession

From this reading He had entered by the rear wagon road and passed into the shrubbery without attracting the attention of the servants.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

past form of “reenact” — enact or perform again

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

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

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading He had entered by the rear wagon road and passed into the shrubbery without attracting the attention of the servants.

cut with a saw

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading He had entered by the rear wagon road and passed into the shrubbery without attracting the attention of the servants.

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

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading She showed him the way to the underground passage through the niche in the rear of the vault, and in ten minutes Ackerman entered the hall through the panel under the stairs.

an area where a number of shrubs are planted

From this reading He had entered by the rear wagon road and passed into the shrubbery without attracting the attention of the servants.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading She showed him the way to the underground passage through the niche in the rear of the vault, and in ten minutes Ackerman entered the hall through the panel under the stairs.

United States minimalist painter (born in 1936)

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

possessive form of “stella” — United States minimalist painter (born in 1936)

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading She showed him the way to the underground passage through the niche in the rear of the vault, and in ten minutes Ackerman entered the hall through the panel under the stairs.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

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

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading She showed him the way to the underground passage through the niche in the rear of the vault, and in ten minutes Ackerman entered the hall through the panel under the stairs.

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

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading She showed him the way to the underground passage through the niche in the rear of the vault, and in ten minutes Ackerman entered the hall through the panel under the stairs.

under the level of the ground

From this reading She showed him the way to the underground passage through the niche in the rear of the vault, and in ten minutes Ackerman entered the hall through the panel under the stairs.

An arched structure of masonry forming a ceiling, or a secure subterranean storage room.

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor

From this reading He had entered by the rear wagon road and passed into the shrubbery without attracting the attention of the servants.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

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

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

past form of “watch” — look attentively

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading She showed him the way to the underground passage through the niche in the rear of the vault, and in ten minutes Ackerman entered the hall through the panel under the stairs.

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

From this reading The detective made an accurate diagram of the hall, measured carefully the distance of the secret door from the chair in which the Judge had been found, and reëxamined the ballroom and all its possible exits and entrances.

which person or people

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Stella, who had returned to the house across the lawn, watched the panel slowly open at his touch and her eyes gleamed with a cold, hard light as she saw reenacted in imagination the tragedy of her father’s death.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading WITHIN thirty minutes after Ackerman had received Stella’s message that she had found the secret entrance to the house he was waiting for her at the door of the vault as she had suggested.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading He had entered by the rear wagon road and passed into the shrubbery without attracting the attention of the servants.