used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He, the redoubtable trainer of animals, was about to attempt a handspring for a party of apes, baboons, mandrills and monkeys!
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He, the redoubtable trainer of animals, was about to attempt a handspring for a party of apes, baboons, mandrills and monkeys!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Never before did an unwilling performer have such an attentive and at the same time odd-looking audience.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Never before did an unwilling performer have such an attentive and at the same time odd-looking audience.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading He, the redoubtable trainer of animals, was about to attempt a handspring for a party of apes, baboons, mandrills and monkeys!
any thing at all
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
apesnounUS /eɪps/
plural of “ape” — any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all
From this reading He, the redoubtable trainer of animals, was about to attempt a handspring for a party of apes, baboons, mandrills and monkeys!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
assistverbUS /əˈsɪst/
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Never before did an unwilling performer have such an attentive and at the same time odd-looking audience.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading He, the redoubtable trainer of animals, was about to attempt a handspring for a party of apes, baboons, mandrills and monkeys!
attentiveadjectiveUS /əˈtentɪv/
(often followed by “to”) giving care or attention
From this reading Never before did an unwilling performer have such an attentive and at the same time odd-looking audience.
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
From this reading Never before did an unwilling performer have such an attentive and at the same time odd-looking audience.
baboonsnounUS /bæˈbuːnz/
plural of “baboon” — large terrestrial monkeys having doglike muzzles
From this reading He, the redoubtable trainer of animals, was about to attempt a handspring for a party of apes, baboons, mandrills and monkeys!
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
bathnounUS /bæθ/
a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Never before did an unwilling performer have such an attentive and at the same time odd-looking audience.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
climbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
comicaladjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmɪkəl/
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
convulsed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Never before did an unwilling performer have such an attentive and at the same time odd-looking audience.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
start firing a weapon
From this reading FROM THE FRYING-PAN TO THE FIRE.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He, the redoubtable trainer of animals, was about to attempt a handspring for a party of apes, baboons, mandrills and monkeys!
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading FROM THE FRYING-PAN TO THE FIRE.
FRYING-PAN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM THE FRYING-PAN TO THE FIRE.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
handspringnoun
an acrobatic feat in which a person goes from a standing position to a handstand and back again
From this reading He, the redoubtable trainer of animals, was about to attempt a handspring for a party of apes, baboons, mandrills and monkeys!
only a very short time before
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Never before did an unwilling performer have such an attentive and at the same time odd-looking audience.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He, the redoubtable trainer of animals, was about to attempt a handspring for a party of apes, baboons, mandrills and monkeys!
hesitatingadjectiveUS /ˈhezəteɪtɪŋ/
lacking decisiveness of character; unable to act or decide quickly or firmly
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
imprintedverbUS /ˌɪmˈprɪntɪd/
past form of “imprint” — establish or impress firmly in the mind
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
and nothing more
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
the sound of laughing
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
mandrills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, the redoubtable trainer of animals, was about to attempt a handspring for a party of apes, baboons, mandrills and monkeys!
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
mirthnounUS /mɜːrθ/
great merriment
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
a particular point in time
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
monkeysnounUS /ˈmʌŋkiz/
plural of “monkey” — any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)
From this reading He, the redoubtable trainer of animals, was about to attempt a handspring for a party of apes, baboons, mandrills and monkeys!
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never before did an unwilling performer have such an attentive and at the same time odd-looking audience.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
odd-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never before did an unwilling performer have such an attentive and at the same time odd-looking audience.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading He, the redoubtable trainer of animals, was about to attempt a handspring for a party of apes, baboons, mandrills and monkeys!
performernounUS /pərˈfɔːrmər/
an entertainer who performs a dramatic or musical work for an audience
From this reading Never before did an unwilling performer have such an attentive and at the same time odd-looking audience.
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
polenounUS /poʊl/
a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
on the contrary
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
redoubtableadjectiveUS /riˈdaʊtəbəl/
inspiring fear
From this reading He, the redoubtable trainer of animals, was about to attempt a handspring for a party of apes, baboons, mandrills and monkeys!
requisitionnounUS /ˌrekwəˈzɪʃən/
the act of requiring; an authoritative request or demand, especially by a military or public authority that takes something over (usually temporarily) for military or public use
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Never before did an unwilling performer have such an attentive and at the same time odd-looking audience.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Never before did an unwilling performer have such an attentive and at the same time odd-looking audience.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FROM THE FRYING-PAN TO THE FIRE.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Never before did an unwilling performer have such an attentive and at the same time odd-looking audience.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FROM THE FRYING-PAN TO THE FIRE.
trainernounUS /ˈtreɪnər/
one who trains other persons or animals
From this reading He, the redoubtable trainer of animals, was about to attempt a handspring for a party of apes, baboons, mandrills and monkeys!
subjected to a physical (or chemical) treatment or action or agent
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
unwillingadjectiveUS /ənˈwɪlɪŋ/
not disposed or inclined toward
From this reading Never before did an unwilling performer have such an attentive and at the same time odd-looking audience.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Hardly knowing how to begin, he stood for a moment hesitating; but the same means which had been employed to assist him in climbing the pole was brought into requisition, until his limbs and back felt as if they had been treated to a bath of fire.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Under other circumstances Philip would have been convulsed with laughter at the scene presented in this drawing-room; but just now it was anything rather than comical, and sorrow instead of mirth was imprinted upon his face.
