used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Silently the two white figures passed along the passage, through the cloister, and down the flight of steps into the Convent crypt.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
archnounUS /ɑːrtʃ/
a curved shape in the vertical plane that spans an opening
From this reading The Prioress unlocked the door and stooping they passed under the arch, and entered the subterranean way.
beckoningverbUS /ˈbekənɪŋ/
-ing form of “beckon” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading "Come!" she whispered, beckoning; and, noiselessly, it stood beside her.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Then she closed the door and, using her master-key, locked it behind her.
next to; at the side of
From this reading "Come!" she whispered, beckoning; and, noiselessly, it stood beside her.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
cloisterverbUS /ˈklɔɪstər/
surround with a cloister, as of a garden
From this reading Silently the two white figures passed along the passage, through the cloister, and down the flight of steps into the Convent crypt.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Then she closed the door and, using her master-key, locked it behind her.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Come!" she whispered, beckoning; and, noiselessly, it stood beside her.
ConventnounUS /ˈkɑːnvənt/
a religious residence especially for nuns
From this reading Silently the two white figures passed along the passage, through the cloister, and down the flight of steps into the Convent crypt.
cryptnounUS /krɪpt/
An underground room or vault beneath an ancient building, often used for storage or burials.
From this reading Silently the two white figures passed along the passage, through the cloister, and down the flight of steps into the Convent crypt.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Silently the two white figures passed along the passage, through the cloister, and down the flight of steps into the Convent crypt.
put on clothes
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading The Prioress unlocked the door and stooping they passed under the arch, and entered the subterranean way.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Silently the two white figures passed along the passage, through the cloister, and down the flight of steps into the Convent crypt.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading Silently the two white figures passed along the passage, through the cloister, and down the flight of steps into the Convent crypt.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Silently the two white figures passed along the passage, through the cloister, and down the flight of steps into the Convent crypt.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Come!" she whispered, beckoning; and, noiselessly, it stood beside her.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
set afire or burning
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading Then she closed the door and, using her master-key, locked it behind her.
master-key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she closed the door and, using her master-key, locked it behind her.
not in physical motion
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
noiselesslyadverb
without a sound
From this reading "Come!" she whispered, beckoning; and, noiselessly, it stood beside her.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading Silently the two white figures passed along the passage, through the cloister, and down the flight of steps into the Convent crypt.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Silently the two white figures passed along the passage, through the cloister, and down the flight of steps into the Convent crypt.
Prioressnoun
the superior of a group of nuns
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Come!" she whispered, beckoning; and, noiselessly, it stood beside her.
without speaking
From this reading Silently the two white figures passed along the passage, through the cloister, and down the flight of steps into the Convent crypt.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Silently the two white figures passed along the passage, through the cloister, and down the flight of steps into the Convent crypt.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
stoopingadjectiveUS /ˈstuːpɪŋ/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading The Prioress unlocked the door and stooping they passed under the arch, and entered the subterranean way.
subterraneanadjectiveUS /ˌsʌb.təˈreɪ.ni.ən/
Existing, occurring, or done under the earth's surface.
From this reading The Prioress unlocked the door and stooping they passed under the arch, and entered the subterranean way.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then she closed the door and, using her master-key, locked it behind her.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Prioress unlocked the door and stooping they passed under the arch, and entered the subterranean way.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Silently the two white figures passed along the passage, through the cloister, and down the flight of steps into the Convent crypt.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Silently the two white figures passed along the passage, through the cloister, and down the flight of steps into the Convent crypt.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The Prioress unlocked the door and stooping they passed under the arch, and entered the subterranean way.
unlockedadjectiveUS /ənˈlɑːkt/
not firmly fastened or secured
From this reading The Prioress unlocked the door and stooping they passed under the arch, and entered the subterranean way.
usingnounUS /ˈjuːzɪŋ/
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading Then she closed the door and, using her master-key, locked it behind her.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The Prioress unlocked the door and stooping they passed under the arch, and entered the subterranean way.
at the time that
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading "Come!" she whispered, beckoning; and, noiselessly, it stood beside her.
a Caucasian
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
WorcesternounUS /ˈwʊstər/
United States lexicographer who was accused of plagiarism by Noah Webster (1784-1865)
From this reading FAREWELL--HERE, AND NOW When the Prioress, a lighted lantern in her hand, opened the door of her chamber, a tall figure in the dress of the White Ladies of Worcester stood motionless against the wall, facing the door.
