used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading When the lift stopped, Ernie went along the corridor to deliver a note to Madame in her room.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "Third Floor," the other answered, curt as a blow.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Third Floor," the other answered, curt as a blow.
exhale hard
From this reading "Third Floor," the other answered, curt as a blow.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
CAPTAIN'SnounUS /ˈkæptənz/
possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading THE CAPTAIN'S FLIGHT That night Ernie was on late lift-duty.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading When the lift stopped, Ernie went along the corridor to deliver a note to Madame in her room.
curtadjectiveUS /kɜːrt/
marked by rude or peremptory shortness
From this reading "Third Floor," the other answered, curt as a blow.
deliververbUS /dɪˈlɪvər/
deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading When the lift stopped, Ernie went along the corridor to deliver a note to Madame in her room.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
Ernie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CAPTAIN'S FLIGHT That night Ernie was on late lift-duty.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading THE CAPTAIN'S FLIGHT That night Ernie was on late lift-duty.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading "Third Floor," the other answered, curt as a blow.
grudginglyadverbUS /ˈɡrʌdʒɪŋli/
in a grudging manner
From this reading "You're late, sir," said Ernie, unlocking grudgingly.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When the lift stopped, Ernie went along the corridor to deliver a note to Madame in her room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the lift stopped, Ernie went along the corridor to deliver a note to Madame in her room.
and nothing more
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading THE CAPTAIN'S FLIGHT That night Ernie was on late lift-duty.
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
lift-duty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CAPTAIN'S FLIGHT That night Ernie was on late lift-duty.
fasten with a lock
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading When the lift stopped, Ernie went along the corridor to deliver a note to Madame in her room.
not able to be found
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE CAPTAIN'S FLIGHT That night Ernie was on late lift-duty.
a brief written record
From this reading When the lift stopped, Ernie went along the corridor to deliver a note to Madame in her room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE CAPTAIN'S FLIGHT That night Ernie was on late lift-duty.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "Third Floor," the other answered, curt as a blow.
peremptoryadjectiveUS /pərˈemptəri/
offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading When the lift stopped, Ernie went along the corridor to deliver a note to Madame in her room.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You're late, sir," said Ernie, unlocking grudgingly.
term of address for a man
From this reading "You're late, sir," said Ernie, unlocking grudgingly.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading When the lift stopped, Ernie went along the corridor to deliver a note to Madame in her room.
stridingverbUS /ˈstraɪdɪŋ/
-ing form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE CAPTAIN'S FLIGHT That night Ernie was on late lift-duty.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CAPTAIN'S FLIGHT That night Ernie was on late lift-duty.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading "Third Floor," the other answered, curt as a blow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
unlockingverbUS /ənˈlɑːkɪŋ/
-ing form of “unlock” — open the lock of
From this reading "You're late, sir," said Ernie, unlocking grudgingly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE CAPTAIN'S FLIGHT That night Ernie was on late lift-duty.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When the lift stopped, Ernie went along the corridor to deliver a note to Madame in her room.
at the time that
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was just about to lock the lift when the missing Captain came striding across the empty hall with a peremptory finger raised.
You're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You're late, sir," said Ernie, unlocking grudgingly.
