used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A COLLECTION OF WILD ANIMALS "Well, what do you think of it?"
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading A COLLECTION OF WILD ANIMALS "Well, what do you think of it?"
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading It seemed to them that there were only the six sleepy-looking Chinamen and themselves in the apartment.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What did you say?" he asked, hoping that the speaker would say something more and so locate himself.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
Chinamen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to them that there were only the six sleepy-looking Chinamen and themselves in the apartment.
coilsnounUS /kɔɪlz/
plural of “coil” — a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
COLLECTIONnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading A COLLECTION OF WILD ANIMALS "Well, what do you think of it?"
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "What did you say?" he asked, hoping that the speaker would say something more and so locate himself.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading A COLLECTION OF WILD ANIMALS "Well, what do you think of it?"
a man who is a native or inhabitant of England
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What did you say?" he asked, hoping that the speaker would say something more and so locate himself.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "What did you say?" he asked, hoping that the speaker would say something more and so locate himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
hopingverbUS /ˈhoʊpɪŋ/
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading "What did you say?" he asked, hoping that the speaker would say something more and so locate himself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A COLLECTION OF WILD ANIMALS "Well, what do you think of it?"
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
locateverbUS /ˈloʊkeɪt/
discover the location of; determine the place of; find by searching or examining
From this reading "What did you say?" he asked, hoping that the speaker would say something more and so locate himself.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "What did you say?" he asked, hoping that the speaker would say something more and so locate himself.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A COLLECTION OF WILD ANIMALS "Well, what do you think of it?"
and nothing more
From this reading It seemed to them that there were only the six sleepy-looking Chinamen and themselves in the apartment.
a human being
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
a strong line
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
express in words
From this reading "What did you say?" he asked, hoping that the speaker would say something more and so locate himself.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to them that there were only the six sleepy-looking Chinamen and themselves in the apartment.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading It seemed to them that there were only the six sleepy-looking Chinamen and themselves in the apartment.
sleepy-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to them that there were only the six sleepy-looking Chinamen and themselves in the apartment.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "What did you say?" he asked, hoping that the speaker would say something more and so locate himself.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "What did you say?" he asked, hoping that the speaker would say something more and so locate himself.
speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/
someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading "What did you say?" he asked, hoping that the speaker would say something more and so locate himself.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
strugglingadjectiveUS /ˈstrʌɡəlɪŋ/
engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading It seemed to them that there were only the six sleepy-looking Chinamen and themselves in the apartment.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It seemed to them that there were only the six sleepy-looking Chinamen and themselves in the apartment.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading A COLLECTION OF WILD ANIMALS "Well, what do you think of it?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to them that there were only the six sleepy-looking Chinamen and themselves in the apartment.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
communicated in words
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
(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 A COLLECTION OF WILD ANIMALS "Well, what do you think of it?"
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A COLLECTION OF WILD ANIMALS "Well, what do you think of it?"
in or at the place that
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
which person or people
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading A COLLECTION OF WILD ANIMALS "Well, what do you think of it?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading Frank ceased his useless struggling with the rope which held both feet and hands in its strong coils, and glanced along the row of stupid faces.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The voice was that of an Englishman, and the words were spoken in the room, but the struggling prisoners could not discover where the person who uttered them stood.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "What did you say?" he asked, hoping that the speaker would say something more and so locate himself.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading A COLLECTION OF WILD ANIMALS "Well, what do you think of it?"
