used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Dick chose one of them at random, and the pair hurried, with echoing footsteps, along the hollow of the chapel roof.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PASSAGE The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow, dirty, and short.
anglesnounUS /ˈæŋɡəlz/
plural of “angle” — the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading Beyond the door there were two branches, at right angles.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Beyond the door there were two branches, at right angles.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Beyond the door there were two branches, at right angles.
chapelnounUS /ˈtʃæpəl/
a place of worship that has its own altar
From this reading Dick chose one of them at random, and the pair hurried, with echoing footsteps, along the hollow of the chapel roof.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Dick chose one of them at random, and the pair hurried, with echoing footsteps, along the hollow of the chapel roof.
cobwebsnounUS /ˈkɑːbwebz/
plural of “cobweb” — a fabric so delicate and transparent as to resemble a web of a spider
From this reading Heavy cobwebs hung from the roof, and the paved flooring echoed hollow under the lightest tread.
someone who is a detective
From this reading THE PASSAGE The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow, dirty, and short.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading THE PASSAGE The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow, dirty, and short.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading Heavy cobwebs hung from the roof, and the paved flooring echoed hollow under the lightest tread.
echoingadjectiveUS /ˈekoʊɪŋ/
(of sounds) repeating by reflection
From this reading Dick chose one of them at random, and the pair hurried, with echoing footsteps, along the hollow of the chapel roof.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
flooringnounUS /ˈflɔːrɪŋ/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Heavy cobwebs hung from the roof, and the paved flooring echoed hollow under the lightest tread.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Dick chose one of them at random, and the pair hurried, with echoing footsteps, along the hollow of the chapel roof.
set up or found
From this reading THE PASSAGE The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow, dirty, and short.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Heavy cobwebs hung from the roof, and the paved flooring echoed hollow under the lightest tread.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Heavy cobwebs hung from the roof, and the paved flooring echoed hollow under the lightest tread.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading Heavy cobwebs hung from the roof, and the paved flooring echoed hollow under the lightest tread.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Heavy cobwebs hung from the roof, and the paved flooring echoed hollow under the lightest tread.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Dick chose one of them at random, and the pair hurried, with echoing footsteps, along the hollow of the chapel roof.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PASSAGE The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow, dirty, and short.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
Joanna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PASSAGE The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow, dirty, and short.
lightestadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪtəst/
superlative of “light” — of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Heavy cobwebs hung from the roof, and the paved flooring echoed hollow under the lightest tread.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading THE PASSAGE The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow, dirty, and short.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE PASSAGE The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow, dirty, and short.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Dick chose one of them at random, and the pair hurried, with echoing footsteps, along the hollow of the chapel roof.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Dick chose one of them at random, and the pair hurried, with echoing footsteps, along the hollow of the chapel roof.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading THE PASSAGE The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow, dirty, and short.
pavedadjectiveUS /peɪvd/
covered with a firm surface
From this reading Heavy cobwebs hung from the roof, and the paved flooring echoed hollow under the lightest tread.
randomadjectiveUS /ˈrændəm/
lacking any definite plan or order or purpose; governed by or depending on chance
From this reading Dick chose one of them at random, and the pair hurried, with echoing footsteps, along the hollow of the chapel roof.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Beyond the door there were two branches, at right angles.
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Heavy cobwebs hung from the roof, and the paved flooring echoed hollow under the lightest tread.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading THE PASSAGE The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow, dirty, and short.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PASSAGE The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow, dirty, and short.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Dick chose one of them at random, and the pair hurried, with echoing footsteps, along the hollow of the chapel roof.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading THE PASSAGE The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow, dirty, and short.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Beyond the door there were two branches, at right angles.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
treadverbUS /tred/
put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading Heavy cobwebs hung from the roof, and the paved flooring echoed hollow under the lightest tread.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Beyond the door there were two branches, at right angles.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Heavy cobwebs hung from the roof, and the paved flooring echoed hollow under the lightest tread.
unlockingverbUS /ənˈlɑːkɪŋ/
-ing form of “unlock” — open the lock of
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE PASSAGE The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow, dirty, and short.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Beyond the door there were two branches, at right angles.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE PASSAGE The passage in which Dick and Joanna now found themselves was narrow, dirty, and short.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Dick chose one of them at random, and the pair hurried, with echoing footsteps, along the hollow of the chapel roof.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading At the other end of it, a door stood partly open; the same door, without doubt, that they had heard the man unlocking.
