used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They turn up one after another with the regularity of a continuous performance.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They turn up one after another with the regularity of a continuous performance.
(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 "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading They turn up one after another with the regularity of a continuous performance.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There are too many young women in Cathay.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
bicyclenounUS /ˈbaɪsɪkəl/
a wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
CathaynounUS /kæˈθeɪ/
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
From this reading There are too many young women in Cathay.
continuousadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/
continuing in time or space without interruption
From this reading They turn up one after another with the regularity of a continuous performance.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.
countriesnounUS /ˈkʌntriz/
plural of “country” — a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
easy-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
forefingernounUS /ˈfɔːrfɪŋɡər/
the finger next to the thumb
From this reading On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.
a long fixed look
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
the act of departing
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.
HOLLYnounUS /ˈhɑːli/
any tree or shrub of the genus Ilex having red berries and shiny evergreen leaves with prickly edges
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
imitateverbUS /ˈɪməteɪt/
reproduce someone's behavior or looks
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.
mantel-piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There are too many young women in Cathay.
musinglyadverb
in a reflective manner
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They turn up one after another with the regularity of a continuous performance.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
palmnounUS /pɑːm/
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.
performancenounUS /pərˈfɔːrməns/
a dramatic or musical entertainment
From this reading They turn up one after another with the regularity of a continuous performance.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
regularitynounUS /ˌreɡjəˈlerəti/
a property of polygons: the property of having equal sides and equal angles
From this reading They turn up one after another with the regularity of a continuous performance.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
precisely, exactly
From this reading On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
in the near future
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
SPRIGnoun
a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.
sturdilyadverb
in a sturdy manner
From this reading On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.
tappedadjectiveUS /tæpt/
in a condition for letting out liquid drawn out as by piercing or drawing a plug
From this reading On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There are too many young women in Cathay.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They turn up one after another with the regularity of a continuous performance.
propel through the air
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading There are too many young women in Cathay.
travellersnounUS /ˈtrævələrz/
plural of “traveller” — a person who changes location
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading They turn up one after another with the regularity of a continuous performance.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading There are too many young women in Cathay.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading "Now, then," said I to myself, "as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries--I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading There are too many young women in Cathay.
