used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading ALMOST After dinner that evening, Ashton-Kirk looked over the last edition of the papers.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading ALMOST After dinner that evening, Ashton-Kirk looked over the last edition of the papers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Shall you leave any word, sir?" asked Stumph, in the lower hall.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
Ashton-Kirk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ALMOST After dinner that evening, Ashton-Kirk looked over the last edition of the papers.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Shall you leave any word, sir?" asked Stumph, in the lower hall.
automaticadjectiveUS /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/
operating with minimal human intervention; independent of external control
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
balancedadjectiveUS /ˈbælənst/
being in a state of proper equilibrium
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
contentedlyadverbUS /kənˈtentədli/
with equanimity
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading ALMOST After dinner that evening, Ashton-Kirk looked over the last edition of the papers.
drawernounUS /drɔːr/
a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published
From this reading ALMOST After dinner that evening, Ashton-Kirk looked over the last edition of the papers.
being one more than seven
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading ALMOST After dinner that evening, Ashton-Kirk looked over the last edition of the papers.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading Selecting the one which struck his fancy, he slipped it into his pocket and prepared to go out.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Selecting the one which struck his fancy, he slipped it into his pocket and prepared to go out.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading "Shall you leave any word, sir?" asked Stumph, in the lower hall.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Selecting the one which struck his fancy, he slipped it into his pocket and prepared to go out.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Selecting the one which struck his fancy, he slipped it into his pocket and prepared to go out.
immediately past
From this reading ALMOST After dinner that evening, Ashton-Kirk looked over the last edition of the papers.
go away from a place
From this reading "Shall you leave any word, sir?" asked Stumph, in the lower hall.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading ALMOST After dinner that evening, Ashton-Kirk looked over the last edition of the papers.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading "Shall you leave any word, sir?" asked Stumph, in the lower hall.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ALMOST After dinner that evening, Ashton-Kirk looked over the last edition of the papers.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Selecting the one which struck his fancy, he slipped it into his pocket and prepared to go out.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading ALMOST After dinner that evening, Ashton-Kirk looked over the last edition of the papers.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading ALMOST After dinner that evening, Ashton-Kirk looked over the last edition of the papers.
pistolsnounUS /ˈpɪstəlz/
plural of “pistol” — a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading Selecting the one which struck his fancy, he slipped it into his pocket and prepared to go out.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Selecting the one which struck his fancy, he slipped it into his pocket and prepared to go out.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
SelectingverbUS /səˈlektɪŋ/
-ing form of “select” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Selecting the one which struck his fancy, he slipped it into his pocket and prepared to go out.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "Shall you leave any word, sir?" asked Stumph, in the lower hall.
term of address for a man
From this reading "Shall you leave any word, sir?" asked Stumph, in the lower hall.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading Selecting the one which struck his fancy, he slipped it into his pocket and prepared to go out.
squat-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
be standing; be upright
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Selecting the one which struck his fancy, he slipped it into his pocket and prepared to go out.
Stumph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Shall you leave any word, sir?" asked Stumph, in the lower hall.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ALMOST After dinner that evening, Ashton-Kirk looked over the last edition of the papers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ALMOST After dinner that evening, Ashton-Kirk looked over the last edition of the papers.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading From this he took several black, squat-looking pistols of the automatic type, and one by one balanced them in his hand.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading About eight o'clock he arose, stretched himself contentedly, and then went to a stand, a drawer of which he pulled open.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading "Shall you leave any word, sir?" asked Stumph, in the lower hall.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Shall you leave any word, sir?" asked Stumph, in the lower hall.
