used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His face was only capable of producing one expression--a shaggy weather-beaten fierceness.
in the past
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
apologynounUS /əˈpɑːlədʒiː/
an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
From this reading Then he made a gesture half of apology as if recognizing that it was no business of his, and turned away thoughtfully.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then he made a gesture half of apology as if recognizing that it was no business of his, and turned away thoughtfully.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
bayonetnounUS /ˈbeɪənet/
a knife that can be fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Then he made a gesture half of apology as if recognizing that it was no business of his, and turned away thoughtfully.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading His face was only capable of producing one expression--a shaggy weather-beaten fierceness.
without doubt or question
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
crueltynounUS /ˈkruːlti/
a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
Desiree's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
disapprovedverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpruːvd/
past form of “disapprove” — consider bad or wrong
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
dispenseverbUS /dɪˈspens/
administer or bestow, as in small portions
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
embersnounUS /ˈembərz/
plural of “ember” — a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
give expression to
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading His face was only capable of producing one expression--a shaggy weather-beaten fierceness.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His face was only capable of producing one expression--a shaggy weather-beaten fierceness.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
fiercenessnoun
the property of being wild or turbulent
From this reading His face was only capable of producing one expression--a shaggy weather-beaten fierceness.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading Then he made a gesture half of apology as if recognizing that it was no business of his, and turned away thoughtfully.
gesturesnounUS /ˈdʒestʃərz/
plural of “gesture” — motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Then he made a gesture half of apology as if recognizing that it was no business of his, and turned away thoughtfully.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His face was only capable of producing one expression--a shaggy weather-beaten fierceness.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
ten 10s
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Then he made a gesture half of apology as if recognizing that it was no business of his, and turned away thoughtfully.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
inconsequentadjective
lacking worth or importance
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
instinctiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪv/
unthinking; prompted by (or as if by) instinct
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Then he made a gesture half of apology as if recognizing that it was no business of his, and turned away thoughtfully.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
not any; not one
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His face was only capable of producing one expression--a shaggy weather-beaten fierceness.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His face was only capable of producing one expression--a shaggy weather-beaten fierceness.
and nothing more
From this reading His face was only capable of producing one expression--a shaggy weather-beaten fierceness.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
producingverbUS /prəˈduːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading His face was only capable of producing one expression--a shaggy weather-beaten fierceness.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
recognizingverbUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “recognize” — accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority
From this reading Then he made a gesture half of apology as if recognizing that it was no business of his, and turned away thoughtfully.
rustyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌsti/
covered with or consisting of rust
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
schoolgirlnounUS /ˈskuːlɡɜːrl/
a girl attending school
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
shaggyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæɡi/
used of hair; thick and poorly groomed
From this reading His face was only capable of producing one expression--a shaggy weather-beaten fierceness.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he made a gesture half of apology as if recognizing that it was no business of his, and turned away thoughtfully.
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading Then he made a gesture half of apology as if recognizing that it was no business of his, and turned away thoughtfully.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
plural of “trouble” — a source of difficulty
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Then he made a gesture half of apology as if recognizing that it was no business of his, and turned away thoughtfully.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading “I had troubles of that sort myself,” he explained, putting together the embers on the hearth with the point of a twisted, rusty bayonet, “but that was long ago.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His face was only capable of producing one expression--a shaggy weather-beaten fierceness.
weather-beatenadjective
tanned and coarsened from being outdoors
From this reading His face was only capable of producing one expression--a shaggy weather-beaten fierceness.
(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 But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
the words that are spoken
From this reading But, like a dog which can express more than many human beings, by a hundred instinctive gestures he could, it seemed, dispense with words on occasion and get on quite as well without them.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading He clearly disapproved of Desiree's marriage, and drew her attention to the fact that she was no more than a schoolgirl with an inconsequent brain, and little limbs too slight to fight a successful battle in a world full of cruelty and danger.
