used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _It was a new era--an era of practicality and cruelty, an era for youth....
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading _It was a new era--an era of practicality and cruelty, an era for youth....
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _It was a new era--an era of practicality and cruelty, an era for youth....
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
crueltynounUS /ˈkruːlti/
a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering
From this reading _It was a new era--an era of practicality and cruelty, an era for youth....
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
Eleanor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This time," he sighed with relief, "It's Eleanor."
elevatornounUS /ˈeləveɪtər/
lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
eranounUS /ˈerə/
a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
From this reading _It was a new era--an era of practicality and cruelty, an era for youth....
expectantlyadverb
in an expectant manner
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _It was a new era--an era of practicality and cruelty, an era for youth....
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He opened the door for her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _It was a new era--an era of practicality and cruelty, an era for youth....
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This time," he sighed with relief, "It's Eleanor."
and nothing more
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
MercernounUS /ˈmɜːrsər/
a dealer in textiles (especially silks)
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading _It was a new era--an era of practicality and cruelty, an era for youth....
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _It was a new era--an era of practicality and cruelty, an era for youth....
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
pacingnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/
(music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
practicalitynounUS /ˌpræktɪˈkæləti/
concerned with actual use rather than theoretical possibilities
From this reading _It was a new era--an era of practicality and cruelty, an era for youth....
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading "This time," he sighed with relief, "It's Eleanor."
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading "This time," he sighed with relief, "It's Eleanor."
sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/
being ten more than fifty
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
SydneynounUS /ˈsɪdni/
the largest Australian city located in southeastern Australia on the Tasman Sea; state capital of New South Wales; Australia's chief port
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This time," he sighed with relief, "It's Eleanor."
tiltedadjectiveUS /ˈtɪltɪd/
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "This time," he sighed with relief, "It's Eleanor."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _It was a new era--an era of practicality and cruelty, an era for youth....
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
at the time that
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
which person or people
From this reading An era of alarm, too, for people who were over sixty...._ Sydney Mercer stopped his pacing and listened; his head tilted expectantly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When he heard the elevator stop, he went with quick, awkward steps to the apartment door and opened it just a crack.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading _It was a new era--an era of practicality and cruelty, an era for youth....
