used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a weekday matinee and the place was almost empty.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was a weekday matinee and the place was almost empty.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He stepped up to the window and bought two tickets.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
boredly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading He stepped up to the window and bought two tickets.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
brieflyadverbUS /ˈbriːfli/
for a short time
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
Burckhardt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burckhardt trailed him in to the theater.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From the screen came sounds of gunfire and horse's hoofs.
carpetedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːrpətɪd/
covered with or as if with carpeting or with carpeting as specified; often used in combination
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading It was a weekday matinee and the place was almost empty.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the screen came sounds of gunfire and horse's hoofs.
gunfirenounUS /ˈɡʌnfaɪər/
the act of shooting a gun
From this reading From the screen came sounds of gunfire and horse's hoofs.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stepped up to the window and bought two tickets.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Burckhardt trailed him in to the theater.
hoofsnounUS /hʊfs/
plural of “hoof” — the foot of an ungulate mammal
From this reading From the screen came sounds of gunfire and horse's hoofs.
horse'snounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/
possessive form of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading From the screen came sounds of gunfire and horse's hoofs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Burckhardt trailed him in to the theater.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a weekday matinee and the place was almost empty.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
matineenounUS /ˈmætɪneɪ/
a theatrical performance held during the daytime (especially in the afternoon)
From this reading It was a weekday matinee and the place was almost empty.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From the screen came sounds of gunfire and horse's hoofs.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading It was a weekday matinee and the place was almost empty.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
screennounUS /skriːn/
a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing
From this reading From the screen came sounds of gunfire and horse's hoofs.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading From the screen came sounds of gunfire and horse's hoofs.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading He stepped up to the window and bought two tickets.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
SwansonnounUS /ˈswɑːnsən/
United States actress in many silent films (1899-1983)
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He stepped up to the window and bought two tickets.
theaternounUS /ˈθiːətər/
a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading Burckhardt trailed him in to the theater.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
ticketsnounUS /ˈtɪkəts/
plural of “ticket” — a commercial document showing that the holder is entitled to something (as to ride on public transportation or to enter a public entertainment)
From this reading He stepped up to the window and bought two tickets.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He stepped up to the window and bought two tickets.
trailedverbUS /treɪld/
past form of “trail” — to lag or linger behind
From this reading Burckhardt trailed him in to the theater.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He stepped up to the window and bought two tickets.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He stepped up to the window and bought two tickets.
usherverbUS /ˈʌʃər/
take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a weekday matinee and the place was almost empty.
weekdaynounUS /ˈwiːkdeɪ/
any day except Sunday (and sometimes except Saturday)
From this reading It was a weekday matinee and the place was almost empty.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A solitary usher, leaning against a bright brass rail, looked briefly at them and went back to staring boredly at the picture as Swanson led Burckhardt down a flight of carpeted marble steps.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading He stepped up to the window and bought two tickets.
