used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
blinkingadjectiveUS /ˈblɪŋkɪŋ/
closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
brightlyadverbUS /ˈbraɪtli/
with brightness
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
intentionally conceived
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
dilatedverbUS /ˌdaɪˈleɪtɪd/
past form of “dilate” — become wider
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
drippingnounUS /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/
a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
eloquentadjectiveUS /ˈeləkwənt/
expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
opinion or judgment
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What is it?” snapped the man, moving quickly toward him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “What is it?” snapped the man, moving quickly toward him.
khakiadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːki/
of a yellowish brown color
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
set afire or burning
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
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 For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading “What’s the matter?”
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
in motion
From this reading “What is it?” snapped the man, moving quickly toward him.
mud-caked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
pantingnounUS /ˈpæntɪŋ/
breathing heavily (as after exertion)
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
with speed
From this reading “What is it?” snapped the man, moving quickly toward him.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
snappedverbUS /snæpt/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading “What is it?” snapped the man, moving quickly toward him.
soddenadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːdən/
wet through and through; thoroughly wet
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
Steve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
streakedadjectiveUS /striːkt/
marked with or as if with stripes or linear discolorations
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
in a swift manner
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For a moment Steve leaned panting against the door, blinking in the glare of the long, brightly lighted room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was conscious of dozen faces turning toward him, and of a man in khaki rising swiftly from a table close at hand.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What is it?” snapped the man, moving quickly toward him.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What’s the matter?”
a Caucasian
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In that first instant he could not seem to find his voice, but his sodden, dripping, mud-caked figure, his white face, streaked across one cheek with red, his wide, dilated eyes, evidently were eloquent, almost, as speech.
