used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading |HALF an hour later Peter tiptoed over and closed the door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading |HALF an hour later Peter tiptoed over and closed the door.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading |HALF an hour later Peter tiptoed over and closed the door.
cracklingnounUS /ˈkræklɪŋ/
the residue that remains after animal fat has been rendered
From this reading The noise of the keys fell on his tense ears like the crackling thunder of a machine gun.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading |HALF an hour later Peter tiptoed over and closed the door.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The noise of the keys fell on his tense ears like the crackling thunder of a machine gun.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The noise of the keys fell on his tense ears like the crackling thunder of a machine gun.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading The noise of the keys fell on his tense ears like the crackling thunder of a machine gun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading |HALF an hour later Peter tiptoed over and closed the door.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading |HALF an hour later Peter tiptoed over and closed the door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He took the paper out and tore it into minute pieces.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
keysnounUS /kiːz/
plural of “key” — metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading The noise of the keys fell on his tense ears like the crackling thunder of a machine gun.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading |HALF an hour later Peter tiptoed over and closed the door.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The noise of the keys fell on his tense ears like the crackling thunder of a machine gun.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading The noise of the keys fell on his tense ears like the crackling thunder of a machine gun.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading He took the paper out and tore it into minute pieces.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The noise of the keys fell on his tense ears like the crackling thunder of a machine gun.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The noise of the keys fell on his tense ears like the crackling thunder of a machine gun.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The noise of the keys fell on his tense ears like the crackling thunder of a machine gun.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He took the paper out and tore it into minute pieces.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading |HALF an hour later Peter tiptoed over and closed the door.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading |HALF an hour later Peter tiptoed over and closed the door.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading He took the paper out and tore it into minute pieces.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
not in physical motion
From this reading He sat still, then, in a sweat.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
sweatnounUS /swet/
salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
From this reading He sat still, then, in a sweat.
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading The noise of the keys fell on his tense ears like the crackling thunder of a machine gun.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading |HALF an hour later Peter tiptoed over and closed the door.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading The noise of the keys fell on his tense ears like the crackling thunder of a machine gun.
tiptoedverbUS /ˈtɪptoʊd/
past form of “tiptoe” — walk on one's toes
From this reading |HALF an hour later Peter tiptoed over and closed the door.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took the paper out and tore it into minute pieces.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading He took the paper out and tore it into minute pieces.
typewriternounUS /ˈtaɪpraɪtər/
hand-operated character printer for printing written messages one character at a time
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Then he sat down at his typewriter, removed the paper he had left in it, put in a new sheet and struck off a word.
