used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He heard a stirring in the darkness.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Closing his fingers about the latch, he stood there, waiting.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
awakenverbUS /əˈweɪkən/
cause to become awake or conscious
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
put or pin the blame on
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
ClosingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading Closing his fingers about the latch, he stood there, waiting.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He heard a stirring in the darkness.
having the place or position changed
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Closing his fingers about the latch, he stood there, waiting.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He heard a stirring in the darkness.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He heard a stirring in the darkness.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
investigatingnounUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪtɪŋ/
the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
Jotan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Jotan."
latchverbUS /lætʃ/
fasten with a latch
From this reading Closing his fingers about the latch, he stood there, waiting.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
mishapnounUS /ˈmɪshæp/
an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
in other respects or ways
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
exert pressure or force to or upon
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
move hurridly
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
sleepernounUS /ˈsliːpər/
a rester who is sleeping
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
soundlesslyadverb
without a sound
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading He heard a stirring in the darkness.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Closing his fingers about the latch, he stood there, waiting.
Tharn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Closing his fingers about the latch, he stood there, waiting.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Closing his fingers about the latch, he stood there, waiting.
wheeledadjectiveUS /wiːld/
having wheels; often used in combination
From this reading Pursuit The instant Tharn felt his foot press the unseen hand he wheeled soundlessly and sprang to the door.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To rush out now would be certain to awaken the disturbed sleeper; otherwise the man might blame the mishap on one of his companions and go back to sleep without investigating further.
