used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Tom and Brent stared at each other.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Tom and Brent stared at each other.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading His attitude said that he was ready and not to be taken unawares.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His attitude said that he was ready and not to be taken unawares.
formed or made thin by hammering
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
cause to be bored
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
BrentnounUS /brent/
small dark geese that breed in the north and migrate southward
From this reading Tom and Brent stared at each other.
brittleadjectiveUS /ˈbrɪtəl/
having little elasticity; hence easily cracked or fractured or snapped
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading Just as the sound ceased, Brent drawled in his usual half-interested manner, “Come in, the place is yours.”
rid of obstructions
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Just as the sound ceased, Brent drawled in his usual half-interested manner, “Come in, the place is yours.”
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
drawledverbUS /drɔːld/
past form of “drawl” — lengthen and slow down or draw out
From this reading Just as the sound ceased, Brent drawled in his usual half-interested manner, “Come in, the place is yours.”
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Tom and Brent stared at each other.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Tom, however, jumped to his feet, fully prepared, watching the door keenly, intently.
footfalls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading Tom, however, jumped to his feet, fully prepared, watching the door keenly, intently.
half-interested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as the sound ceased, Brent drawled in his usual half-interested manner, “Come in, the place is yours.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His attitude said that he was ready and not to be taken unawares.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Just as the sound ceased, Brent drawled in his usual half-interested manner, “Come in, the place is yours.”
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Tom, however, jumped to his feet, fully prepared, watching the door keenly, intently.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Just as the sound ceased, Brent drawled in his usual half-interested manner, “Come in, the place is yours.”
intentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtentli/
with strained or eager attention
From this reading Tom, however, jumped to his feet, fully prepared, watching the door keenly, intently.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Just as the sound ceased, Brent drawled in his usual half-interested manner, “Come in, the place is yours.”
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Tom, however, jumped to his feet, fully prepared, watching the door keenly, intently.
and nothing more
From this reading Just as the sound ceased, Brent drawled in his usual half-interested manner, “Come in, the place is yours.”
keenlyadverbUS /ˈkiːnli/
in a keen or penetrating way
From this reading Tom, however, jumped to his feet, fully prepared, watching the door keenly, intently.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Just as the sound ceased, Brent drawled in his usual half-interested manner, “Come in, the place is yours.”
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His attitude said that he was ready and not to be taken unawares.
obscuredverbUS /əbsˈkjʊrd/
past form of “obscure” — make less visible or unclear
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Tom and Brent stared at each other.
pavementnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənt/
the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Just as the sound ceased, Brent drawled in his usual half-interested manner, “Come in, the place is yours.”
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Tom, however, jumped to his feet, fully prepared, watching the door keenly, intently.
rattledadjectiveUS /ˈrætəld/
thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading His attitude said that he was ready and not to be taken unawares.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading His attitude said that he was ready and not to be taken unawares.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
soundingadjectiveUS /ˈsaʊndɪŋ/
appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Tom and Brent stared at each other.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading His attitude said that he was ready and not to be taken unawares.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His attitude said that he was ready and not to be taken unawares.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
male cat
From this reading Tom and Brent stared at each other.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
unawaresadverbUS /ˌʌnəˈwerz/
without forethought or plan; inadvertently
From this reading His attitude said that he was ready and not to be taken unawares.
underbrushnounUS /ˈʌndərbrʌʃ/
the brush (small trees and bushes and ferns etc.) growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Just as the sound ceased, Brent drawled in his usual half-interested manner, “Come in, the place is yours.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His attitude said that he was ready and not to be taken unawares.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Tom, however, jumped to his feet, fully prepared, watching the door keenly, intently.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The footfalls approached nearer and nearer, sounding clear upon the brittle underbrush which obscured the beaten track to the door; clear as footsteps on a pavement, as the driving wind which rattled the door and window, bore the sound to the cabin.
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading Just as the sound ceased, Brent drawled in his usual half-interested manner, “Come in, the place is yours.”
