used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
AmirnounUS /əˈmɪr/
an independent ruler or chieftain (especially in Africa or Arabia)
From this reading When Captain Barlow had gone Amir Khan took up the message and read it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Captain Barlow had gone Amir Khan took up the message and read it.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
Barlow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Captain Barlow had gone Amir Khan took up the message and read it.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Presently he rose from his chair, took the lamp in one hand and the paper in the other, and crossed to the iron box in a far corner of the room.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading When Captain Barlow had gone Amir Khan took up the message and read it.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Presently he rose from his chair, took the lamp in one hand and the paper in the other, and crossed to the iron box in a far corner of the room.
chuckledverbUS /ˈtʃʌkəld/
past form of “chuckle” — laugh quietly or with restraint
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Presently he rose from his chair, took the lamp in one hand and the paper in the other, and crossed to the iron box in a far corner of the room.
placed crosswise
From this reading Presently he rose from his chair, took the lamp in one hand and the paper in the other, and crossed to the iron box in a far corner of the room.
deceivingverbUS /dɪˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “deceive” — be false to; be dishonest with
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
draughtnounUS /dræft/
a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Presently he rose from his chair, took the lamp in one hand and the paper in the other, and crossed to the iron box in a far corner of the room.
flickeringadjectiveUS /ˈflɪkərɪŋ/
shining unsteadily
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Presently he rose from his chair, took the lamp in one hand and the paper in the other, and crossed to the iron box in a far corner of the room.
destroyed or killed
From this reading When Captain Barlow had gone Amir Khan took up the message and read it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When Captain Barlow had gone Amir Khan took up the message and read it.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Presently he rose from his chair, took the lamp in one hand and the paper in the other, and crossed to the iron box in a far corner of the room.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading Presently he rose from his chair, took the lamp in one hand and the paper in the other, and crossed to the iron box in a far corner of the room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When Captain Barlow had gone Amir Khan took up the message and read it.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
keysnounUS /kiːz/
plural of “key” — metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
KhannounUS /kɑːn/
a title given to rulers or other important people in Asian countries
From this reading When Captain Barlow had gone Amir Khan took up the message and read it.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading Presently he rose from his chair, took the lamp in one hand and the paper in the other, and crossed to the iron box in a far corner of the room.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading When Captain Barlow had gone Amir Khan took up the message and read it.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
on one occasion
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
OrientaladjectiveUS /ˌɔːriˈentəl/
denoting or characteristic of countries of the Far East
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Presently he rose from his chair, took the lamp in one hand and the paper in the other, and crossed to the iron box in a far corner of the room.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Presently he rose from his chair, took the lamp in one hand and the paper in the other, and crossed to the iron box in a far corner of the room.
in the near future
From this reading Presently he rose from his chair, took the lamp in one hand and the paper in the other, and crossed to the iron box in a far corner of the room.
purdahnoun
a state of social isolation
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
on the contrary
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading When Captain Barlow had gone Amir Khan took up the message and read it.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Presently he rose from his chair, took the lamp in one hand and the paper in the other, and crossed to the iron box in a far corner of the room.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Presently he rose from his chair, took the lamp in one hand and the paper in the other, and crossed to the iron box in a far corner of the room.
sealverbUS /siːl/
make tight; secure against leakage
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
shiftedverbUS /ˈʃɪftɪd/
past form of “shift” — make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
swayedverbUS /sweɪd/
past form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Captain Barlow had gone Amir Khan took up the message and read it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading When Captain Barlow had gone Amir Khan took up the message and read it.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When Captain Barlow had gone Amir Khan took up the message and read it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
waistbandnoun
a band of material around the waist that strengthens a skirt or trousers
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
at the time that
From this reading When Captain Barlow had gone Amir Khan took up the message and read it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He set the flickering light upon the floor, and dropping to his knees, drew from his waistband a silver chain, at the end of which were his seal and keys.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Once as he read the heavy silk _purdah_ of the door swayed a little at one side as if a draught of wind had shifted it and an evil face appeared in the opening.
the act of creating written works
From this reading Once he chuckled, for it was in his Oriental mind that the deceiving of Barlow as to his knowledge of writing was rather a joke.
