used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was nothing in it but space--a couple of armchairs and the blur of tobacco smoke.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was nothing in it but space--a couple of armchairs and the blur of tobacco smoke.
any thing at all
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
armchairsnounUS /ˈɑːrmtʃerz/
plural of “armchair” — chair with a support on each side for arms
From this reading There was nothing in it but space--a couple of armchairs and the blur of tobacco smoke.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “IS that thing yours?” asked Cartier.
blurverbUS /blɜːr/
become glassy; lose clear vision
From this reading There was nothing in it but space--a couple of armchairs and the blur of tobacco smoke.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was nothing in it but space--a couple of armchairs and the blur of tobacco smoke.
CartiernounUS /ˈkɑːrtiər/
French explorer who explored the St. Lawrence river and laid claim to the region for France (1491-1557)
From this reading “IS that thing yours?” asked Cartier.
Cartier's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Sunday evening in the vast solitude of Cartier’s music room.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading There was nothing in it but space--a couple of armchairs and the blur of tobacco smoke.
deadenverbUS /ˈdedən/
make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading It was Sunday evening in the vast solitude of Cartier’s music room.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was Sunday evening in the vast solitude of Cartier’s music room.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “IS that thing yours?” asked Cartier.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Sunday evening in the vast solitude of Cartier’s music room.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, it’s mine,” replied Jean wearily.
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading “Yes, it’s mine,” replied Jean wearily.
Jean'snounUS /dʒiːnz/
possessive form of “jean” — a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
listener's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Yes, it’s mine,” replied Jean wearily.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading It was Sunday evening in the vast solitude of Cartier’s music room.
plural of “note” — a brief written record
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing in it but space--a couple of armchairs and the blur of tobacco smoke.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was Sunday evening in the vast solitude of Cartier’s music room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “Yes, it’s mine,” replied Jean wearily.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It was Sunday evening in the vast solitude of Cartier’s music room.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading There was nothing in it but space--a couple of armchairs and the blur of tobacco smoke.
solitudenounUS /ˈsɑːlətuːd/
a state of social isolation
From this reading It was Sunday evening in the vast solitude of Cartier’s music room.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading There was nothing in it but space--a couple of armchairs and the blur of tobacco smoke.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading It was Sunday evening in the vast solitude of Cartier’s music room.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “IS that thing yours?” asked Cartier.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was Sunday evening in the vast solitude of Cartier’s music room.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was nothing in it but space--a couple of armchairs and the blur of tobacco smoke.
a special situation
From this reading “IS that thing yours?” asked Cartier.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
tobacconounUS /təˈbækoʊ/
leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion
From this reading There was nothing in it but space--a couple of armchairs and the blur of tobacco smoke.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading It was Sunday evening in the vast solitude of Cartier’s music room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Sunday evening in the vast solitude of Cartier’s music room.
wearilyadverbUS /ˈwerəli/
in a weary manner
From this reading “Yes, it’s mine,” replied Jean wearily.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The sound of Jean’s playing on Cartier’s perfect grand reached his listener’s ear without anything to deaden or blur the clear stream of the falling notes.
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes, it’s mine,” replied Jean wearily.
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading “IS that thing yours?” asked Cartier.
