used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He picked out the caps and a mackinaw which might come in handy, and was on the point of closing the trunk when he hesitated.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Its contents had been flung about in wild disorder, and George thought ruefully of the delicate clock and the glass ink-well of the desk set.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was beginning to despair when at length one fitted, and snapping down the hasps he threw back the lid.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He was beginning to despair when at length one fitted, and snapping down the hasps he threw back the lid.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading He was beginning to despair when at length one fitted, and snapping down the hasps he threw back the lid.
capsnounUS /kæps/
plural of “cap” — a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading He picked out the caps and a mackinaw which might come in handy, and was on the point of closing the trunk when he hesitated.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading Its contents had been flung about in wild disorder, and George thought ruefully of the delicate clock and the glass ink-well of the desk set.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading He picked out the caps and a mackinaw which might come in handy, and was on the point of closing the trunk when he hesitated.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He picked out the caps and a mackinaw which might come in handy, and was on the point of closing the trunk when he hesitated.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading Its contents had been flung about in wild disorder, and George thought ruefully of the delicate clock and the glass ink-well of the desk set.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading Its contents had been flung about in wild disorder, and George thought ruefully of the delicate clock and the glass ink-well of the desk set.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Its contents had been flung about in wild disorder, and George thought ruefully of the delicate clock and the glass ink-well of the desk set.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading He was beginning to despair when at length one fitted, and snapping down the hasps he threw back the lid.
disordernounUS /dɪˈsɔːrdər/
a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning
From this reading Its contents had been flung about in wild disorder, and George thought ruefully of the delicate clock and the glass ink-well of the desk set.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He was beginning to despair when at length one fitted, and snapping down the hasps he threw back the lid.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
expressmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading He was beginning to despair when at length one fitted, and snapping down the hasps he threw back the lid.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Its contents had been flung about in wild disorder, and George thought ruefully of the delicate clock and the glass ink-well of the desk set.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading Its contents had been flung about in wild disorder, and George thought ruefully of the delicate clock and the glass ink-well of the desk set.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
handlingnounUS /ˈhændlɪŋ/
manual (or mechanical) carrying or moving or delivering or working with something
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
handyadjectiveUS /ˈhændi/
easy to reach
From this reading He picked out the caps and a mackinaw which might come in handy, and was on the point of closing the trunk when he hesitated.
hasps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was beginning to despair when at length one fitted, and snapping down the hasps he threw back the lid.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading He picked out the caps and a mackinaw which might come in handy, and was on the point of closing the trunk when he hesitated.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
ink-well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its contents had been flung about in wild disorder, and George thought ruefully of the delicate clock and the glass ink-well of the desk set.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its contents had been flung about in wild disorder, and George thought ruefully of the delicate clock and the glass ink-well of the desk set.
keysnounUS /kiːz/
plural of “key” — metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading He was beginning to despair when at length one fitted, and snapping down the hasps he threw back the lid.
a room where books are kept
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
lidnounUS /lɪd/
either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading He was beginning to despair when at length one fitted, and snapping down the hasps he threw back the lid.
fasten with a lock
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
mackinawnounUS /ˈmækənɔː/
a short plaid coat made of made of thick woolen material
From this reading He picked out the caps and a mackinaw which might come in handy, and was on the point of closing the trunk when he hesitated.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He picked out the caps and a mackinaw which might come in handy, and was on the point of closing the trunk when he hesitated.
NormannounUS /ˈnɔːrmən/
United States operatic soprano (born in 1945)
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He picked out the caps and a mackinaw which might come in handy, and was on the point of closing the trunk when he hesitated.
packedadjectiveUS /pækt/
extremely crowed or filled to capacity
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading He picked out the caps and a mackinaw which might come in handy, and was on the point of closing the trunk when he hesitated.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading He picked out the caps and a mackinaw which might come in handy, and was on the point of closing the trunk when he hesitated.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
ruefullyadverbUS /ˈruːfəli/
in a rueful manner
From this reading Its contents had been flung about in wild disorder, and George thought ruefully of the delicate clock and the glass ink-well of the desk set.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Its contents had been flung about in wild disorder, and George thought ruefully of the delicate clock and the glass ink-well of the desk set.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
snappingverbUS /ˈsnæpɪŋ/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading He was beginning to despair when at length one fitted, and snapping down the hasps he threw back the lid.
sortingnounUS /ˈsɔːrtɪŋ/
an operation that segregates items into groups according to a specified criterion
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Its contents had been flung about in wild disorder, and George thought ruefully of the delicate clock and the glass ink-well of the desk set.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading He was beginning to despair when at length one fitted, and snapping down the hasps he threw back the lid.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading In the Library George returned to the library, and sorting the smaller keys from the others on the ring he tried them one after the other in the lock of the trunk.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
precisely as stated
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was beginning to despair when at length one fitted, and snapping down the hasps he threw back the lid.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading They could not have packed very well, he and Norman, or else the expressmen had been unusually rough in handling the trunk.
at the time that
From this reading He was beginning to despair when at length one fitted, and snapping down the hasps he threw back the lid.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He picked out the caps and a mackinaw which might come in handy, and was on the point of closing the trunk when he hesitated.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Its contents had been flung about in wild disorder, and George thought ruefully of the delicate clock and the glass ink-well of the desk set.
