used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
Adriance's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
ANDY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ANDY OF THE MOTOR-TRUCKS.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
bafflednounUS /ˈbæfəld/
people who are frustrated and perplexed
From this reading He delighted in difficult subjects, now, who baffled a casual inspection.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The man behind the wicket leaned forward to survey the man outside.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
casualadjectiveUS /ˈkæʒəwəl/
marked by blithe unconcern
From this reading He delighted in difficult subjects, now, who baffled a casual inspection.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
greatly pleased
From this reading He delighted in difficult subjects, now, who baffled a casual inspection.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading He delighted in difficult subjects, now, who baffled a casual inspection.
increase twofold
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The man behind the wicket leaned forward to survey the man outside.
gate-keeper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
hobbynounUS /ˈhɑːbi/
an auxiliary activity
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
inspectionnounUS /ˌɪnˈspekʃən/
a formal or official examination
From this reading He delighted in difficult subjects, now, who baffled a casual inspection.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
iron-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading The man behind the wicket leaned forward to survey the man outside.
most important element
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man behind the wicket leaned forward to survey the man outside.
the force of workers available
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
MOTOR-TRUCKS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ANDY OF THE MOTOR-TRUCKS.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He delighted in difficult subjects, now, who baffled a casual inspection.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ANDY OF THE MOTOR-TRUCKS.
ornamentalnounUS /ˌɔːrnəˈmentəl/
any plant grown for its beauty or ornamental value
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading The man behind the wicket leaned forward to survey the man outside.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
positionsnounUS /pəˈzɪʃənz/
plural of “position” — the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
seventeenthadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the sixteenth in position
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
plural of “subject” — the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading He delighted in difficult subjects, now, who baffled a casual inspection.
surveynounUS /sərˈveɪ/
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading The man behind the wicket leaned forward to survey the man outside.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ANDY OF THE MOTOR-TRUCKS.
in or at that place or location
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The man behind the wicket leaned forward to survey the man outside.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
vanitynounUS /ˈvænəti/
feelings of excessive pride
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The gate-keeper at the main entrance to Adriance's was the prey of a double vanity that kept his attention alert: he was vain of his own position, and of his ability to judge the positions of other men.
which person or people
From this reading He delighted in difficult subjects, now, who baffled a casual inspection.
wicketnounUS /ˈwɪkət/
cricket equipment consisting of a set of three stumps topped by crosspieces; used in playing cricket
From this reading The man behind the wicket leaned forward to survey the man outside.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading This was his seventeenth year in the cage of ornamental iron-work, and he had brought his hobby into it with his first day there.
