adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
agenounUS /eɪdʒ/
how long something has existed
From this reading His eyes were bright, however, in spite of his age.
agedadjectiveUS /eɪdʒd/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
beastnounUS /biːst/
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
bestnounUS /best/
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading Washington was a fine cook, and there was a plentiful supply of just what the boys liked best.
boysnounUS /bɔɪz/
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Washington was a fine cook, and there was a plentiful supply of just what the boys liked best.
brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading His eyes were bright, however, in spite of his age.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
cat-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
clatternounUS /ˈklætər/
a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
cookverbUS /kʊk/
prepare a hot meal
From this reading Washington was a fine cook, and there was a plentiful supply of just what the boys liked best.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading When the meal was well under way, the dining room door opened, and a strange figure entered.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading When the meal was well under way, the dining room door opened, and a strange figure entered.
enemynounUS /ˈenəmi/
an opposing military force
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading When the meal was well under way, the dining room door opened, and a strange figure entered.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes were bright, however, in spite of his age.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading When the meal was well under way, the dining room door opened, and a strange figure entered.
fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Washington was a fine cook, and there was a plentiful supply of just what the boys liked best.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
forksnounUS /fɔːrks/
plural of “fork” — cutlery used for serving and eating food
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His eyes were bright, however, in spite of his age.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading His eyes were bright, however, in spite of his age.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His eyes were bright, however, in spite of his age.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading Washington was a fine cook, and there was a plentiful supply of just what the boys liked best.
knivesnounUS /naɪvz/
plural of “knife” — edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
leanedverbUS /liːnd/
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
likedadjectiveUS /laɪkt/
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading Washington was a fine cook, and there was a plentiful supply of just what the boys liked best.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
mealnounUS /miːl/
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading When the meal was well under way, the dining room door opened, and a strange figure entered.
minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading When the meal was well under way, the dining room door opened, and a strange figure entered.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
plentifuladjectiveUS /ˈplentəfəl/
existing in great number or quantity
From this reading Washington was a fine cook, and there was a plentiful supply of just what the boys liked best.
POWERnounUS /ˈpaʊər/
possession of controlling influence
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading When the meal was well under way, the dining room door opened, and a strange figure entered.
seatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
SECRETnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
spitenounUS /spaɪt/
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading His eyes were bright, however, in spite of his age.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading When the meal was well under way, the dining room door opened, and a strange figure entered.
supplyverbUS /səˈplaɪ/
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Washington was a fine cook, and there was a plentiful supply of just what the boys liked best.
tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Washington was a fine cook, and there was a plentiful supply of just what the boys liked best.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
trailnounUS /treɪl/
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
treadverbUS /tred/
put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading When the meal was well under way, the dining room door opened, and a strange figure entered.
walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
WashingtonnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪŋtən/
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading Washington was a fine cook, and there was a plentiful supply of just what the boys liked best.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading When the meal was well under way, the dining room door opened, and a strange figure entered.
welladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading When the meal was well under way, the dining room door opened, and a strange figure entered.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE SECRET POWER For a few minutes after they were seated at the table nothing was heard but the rattle of the dishes and the clatter of knives and forks.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Washington was a fine cook, and there was a plentiful supply of just what the boys liked best.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When the meal was well under way, the dining room door opened, and a strange figure entered.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
wildadjectiveUS /waɪld/
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was that of rather an aged man, who walked with soft, cat-like tread, and who leaned forward, as if on the trail of some enemy or wild beast.
