used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
equally
From this reading "ALIKE IS HELL, OR PARADISE, OR HEAVEN."
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had heard her husband's proclaim himself triply an assassin.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dora had been told of Heathcote's arrival, and had hurried from her dressing-room on the further side of the bedchamber.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Dora had been told of Heathcote's arrival, and had hurried from her dressing-room on the further side of the bedchamber.
assassinnounUS /əˈsæsən/
a murderer (especially one who kills a prominent political figure) who kills by a surprise attack and often is hired to do the deed
From this reading She had heard her husband's proclaim himself triply an assassin.
bedchambernounUS /ˈbedtʃeɪmbər/
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading Dora had been told of Heathcote's arrival, and had hurried from her dressing-room on the further side of the bedchamber.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Dora had been told of Heathcote's arrival, and had hurried from her dressing-room on the further side of the bedchamber.
the act of breaking something
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
curtainedadjective
furnished or concealed with curtains or draperies
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
despairingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsperɪŋ/
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
Dora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dora had been told of Heathcote's arrival, and had hurried from her dressing-room on the further side of the bedchamber.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
dressing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dora had been told of Heathcote's arrival, and had hurried from her dressing-room on the further side of the bedchamber.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
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 Dora had been told of Heathcote's arrival, and had hurried from her dressing-room on the further side of the bedchamber.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Dora had been told of Heathcote's arrival, and had hurried from her dressing-room on the further side of the bedchamber.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
Heathcote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
Heathcote's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dora had been told of Heathcote's arrival, and had hurried from her dressing-room on the further side of the bedchamber.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading "ALIKE IS HELL, OR PARADISE, OR HEAVEN."
any place of pain and turmoil
From this reading "ALIKE IS HELL, OR PARADISE, OR HEAVEN."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Dora had been told of Heathcote's arrival, and had hurried from her dressing-room on the further side of the bedchamber.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading She had heard her husband's proclaim himself triply an assassin.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Dora had been told of Heathcote's arrival, and had hurried from her dressing-room on the further side of the bedchamber.
husband'snounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading She had heard her husband's proclaim himself triply an assassin.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "ALIKE IS HELL, OR PARADISE, OR HEAVEN."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
morning-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Dora had been told of Heathcote's arrival, and had hurried from her dressing-room on the further side of the bedchamber.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "ALIKE IS HELL, OR PARADISE, OR HEAVEN."
PARADISEnounUS /ˈperədaɪs/
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading "ALIKE IS HELL, OR PARADISE, OR HEAVEN."
proclaimverbUS /proʊˈkleɪm/
declare formally; declare someone to be something; of titles
From this reading She had heard her husband's proclaim himself triply an assassin.
pronounceverbUS /prəˈnaʊns/
speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Dora had been told of Heathcote's arrival, and had hurried from her dressing-room on the further side of the bedchamber.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Dora had been told of Heathcote's arrival, and had hurried from her dressing-room on the further side of the bedchamber.
triply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had heard her husband's proclaim himself triply an assassin.
wailingnounUS /ˈweɪlɪŋ/
loud cries made while weeping
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading It was the despairing cry of a woman's breaking heart that came with that low wailing sound from the curtained doorway.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading She had reached the threshold of the morning-room in time to hear Heathcote pronounce the dreadful word "Murder," and she had heard all that followed.
