used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There certainly was a slight odour of burning fat.
admonitoryadjectiveUS /ˌædˈmɔːnɪtɔːri/
serving to warn
From this reading Papa Barlasch turned and shook an admonitory finger at the servant, but he said nothing.
equally
From this reading He looked round at the highly polished utensils, at the table and floor both alike scrubbed clean by a vigorous northern arm.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Papa Barlasch turned and shook an admonitory finger at the servant, but he said nothing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Papa Barlasch turned and shook an admonitory finger at the servant, but he said nothing.
approvalnounUS /əˈpruːvəl/
the formal act of approving
From this reading And he was kind enough to nod approval.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading He looked round at the highly polished utensils, at the table and floor both alike scrubbed clean by a vigorous northern arm.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Papa Barlasch turned and shook an admonitory finger at the servant, but he said nothing.
Barlasch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Papa Barlasch turned and shook an admonitory finger at the servant, but he said nothing.
bayonetnounUS /ˈbeɪənet/
a knife that can be fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
the two together, not just one
From this reading He looked round at the highly polished utensils, at the table and floor both alike scrubbed clean by a vigorous northern arm.
the act of burning something
From this reading There certainly was a slight odour of burning fat.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Papa Barlasch turned and shook an admonitory finger at the servant, but he said nothing.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He looked round at the highly polished utensils, at the table and floor both alike scrubbed clean by a vigorous northern arm.
campaignnounUS /kæmˈpeɪn/
a race between candidates for elective office
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading There certainly was a slight odour of burning fat.
cindersnounUS /ˈsɪndərz/
plural of “cinder” — a fragment of incombustible matter left after a wood or coal or charcoal fire
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading He looked round at the highly polished utensils, at the table and floor both alike scrubbed clean by a vigorous northern arm.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading And he was kind enough to nod approval.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading There certainly was a slight odour of burning fat.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading Papa Barlasch turned and shook an admonitory finger at the servant, but he said nothing.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading He looked round at the highly polished utensils, at the table and floor both alike scrubbed clean by a vigorous northern arm.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Papa Barlasch turned and shook an admonitory finger at the servant, but he said nothing.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading He looked round at the highly polished utensils, at the table and floor both alike scrubbed clean by a vigorous northern arm.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading And he was kind enough to nod approval.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked round at the highly polished utensils, at the table and floor both alike scrubbed clean by a vigorous northern arm.
not any; not one
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
nodverbUS /nɑːd/
express or signify by nodding
From this reading And he was kind enough to nod approval.
northernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading He looked round at the highly polished utensils, at the table and floor both alike scrubbed clean by a vigorous northern arm.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Papa Barlasch turned and shook an admonitory finger at the servant, but he said nothing.
odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading There certainly was a slight odour of burning fat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There certainly was a slight odour of burning fat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading Papa Barlasch turned and shook an admonitory finger at the servant, but he said nothing.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/
perfected or made shiny and smooth
From this reading He looked round at the highly polished utensils, at the table and floor both alike scrubbed clean by a vigorous northern arm.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading He looked round at the highly polished utensils, at the table and floor both alike scrubbed clean by a vigorous northern arm.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Papa Barlasch turned and shook an admonitory finger at the servant, but he said nothing.
scrubbedadjectiveUS /skrʌbd/
made clean by scrubbing
From this reading He looked round at the highly polished utensils, at the table and floor both alike scrubbed clean by a vigorous northern arm.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Papa Barlasch turned and shook an admonitory finger at the servant, but he said nothing.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading Papa Barlasch turned and shook an admonitory finger at the servant, but he said nothing.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading There certainly was a slight odour of burning fat.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He looked round at the highly polished utensils, at the table and floor both alike scrubbed clean by a vigorous northern arm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Papa Barlasch turned and shook an admonitory finger at the servant, but he said nothing.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There certainly was a slight odour of burning fat.
push forcefully
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading “On a campaign,” he said to no one in particular, “a little bit of horse thrust into the cinders on the end of a bayonet--but in times of peace...”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And he was kind enough to nod approval.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Papa Barlasch turned and shook an admonitory finger at the servant, but he said nothing.
utensilsnounUS /juːˈtensəlz/
plural of “utensil” — an implement for practical use (especially in a household)
From this reading He looked round at the highly polished utensils, at the table and floor both alike scrubbed clean by a vigorous northern arm.
vigorousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪɡərəs/
characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity
From this reading He looked round at the highly polished utensils, at the table and floor both alike scrubbed clean by a vigorous northern arm.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There certainly was a slight odour of burning fat.
