used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "I didn't hear an answer, so I thought you must be asleep," she said.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
react verbally
From this reading "I didn't hear an answer, so I thought you must be asleep," she said.
in a state of sleep
From this reading "I didn't hear an answer, so I thought you must be asleep," she said.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I didn't hear an answer, so I thought you must be asleep," she said.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I looked in to see if I couldn't do something."
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I didn't hear an answer, so I thought you must be asleep," she said.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "I looked in to see if I couldn't do something."
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The same instant her eyes fell upon Helen.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The same instant her eyes fell upon Helen.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
in a gradual manner
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading "I didn't hear an answer, so I thought you must be asleep," she said.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading The same instant her eyes fell upon Helen.
Helen'snounUS /ˈhelɪnz/
possessive form of “helen” — (Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I didn't hear an answer, so I thought you must be asleep," she said.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "I looked in to see if I couldn't do something."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading The same instant her eyes fell upon Helen.
ITEMnounUS /ˈaɪtəm/
a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
Kate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
knobnounUS /nɑːb/
a circular rounded projection or protuberance
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "I looked in to see if I couldn't do something."
Morgan'snounUS /ˈmɔːrɡənz/
possessive form of “morgan” — United States anthropologist who studied the Seneca (1818-1881)
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "I didn't hear an answer, so I thought you must be asleep," she said.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
on one occasion
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
pushingnounUS /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/
the act of applying force in order to move something away
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I didn't hear an answer, so I thought you must be asleep," she said.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The same instant her eyes fell upon Helen.
cut with a saw
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "I looked in to see if I couldn't do something."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "I didn't hear an answer, so I thought you must be asleep," she said.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "I looked in to see if I couldn't do something."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "I didn't hear an answer, so I thought you must be asleep," she said.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A NEW ITEM IN THE BILL OF SCORN But before Helen's hand reached the knob, the door opened gently, pushing her to one side.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The same instant her eyes fell upon Helen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
at the time that
From this reading Kate Morgan's head slipped cautiously in, and was followed at once by the rest of her body when she saw that David was awake.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I didn't hear an answer, so I thought you must be asleep," she said.
