used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
abbreviatedadjectiveUS /əˈbriːvieɪtɪd/
(of clothing) very short
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I WAS talking about woman in the abstract,” said Harold.
abstractverbUS /æbˈstrækt/
consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically
From this reading I WAS talking about woman in the abstract,” said Harold.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
cat's-pawnoun
a person used by another to gain an end
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
crinkleverb
make wrinkles or creases on a smooth surface; make a pressed, folded or wrinkled line in; “crisp” is archaic
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
dearly loved
From this reading My dear Harold, there is no such thing as woman in the abstract.
Edmund
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
plural of “find” — a productive insight
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
frownedverbUS /fraʊnd/
past form of “frown” — look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
Harold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I WAS talking about woman in the abstract,” said Harold.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I WAS talking about woman in the abstract,” said Harold.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I WAS talking about woman in the abstract,” said Harold.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My dear Harold, there is no such thing as woman in the abstract.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
the sound of laughing
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
held up in the air
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
momentaryadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊmənteri/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My dear Harold, there is no such thing as woman in the abstract.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
not any; not one
From this reading My dear Harold, there is no such thing as woman in the abstract.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
regionnounUS /ˈriːdʒən/
the extended spatial location of something
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading I WAS talking about woman in the abstract,” said Harold.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
express in speech
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading My dear Harold, there is no such thing as woman in the abstract.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading I WAS talking about woman in the abstract,” said Harold.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I WAS talking about woman in the abstract,” said Harold.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
in or at that place or location
From this reading My dear Harold, there is no such thing as woman in the abstract.
a special situation
From this reading My dear Harold, there is no such thing as woman in the abstract.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
two times
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
untoprepositionUS /ˈʌntuː/
an old word for “to”
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I WAS talking about woman in the abstract,” said Harold.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
which person or people
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
belonging to which person
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading I WAS talking about woman in the abstract,” said Harold.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading The other, whose name was Edmund--his worst enemies had never abbreviated it--smiled, lifted his eyes unto the hills as if in search of something, frowned as if he failed to find it, smiled a cat’s-paw of a smile--a momentary crinkle in the region of the eyes--twice his lips parted as if he were about to speak; then he gave a laugh--the laugh of a man who finds that for which he has been searching.
