used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
adaptverbUS /əˈdæpt/
make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An imperative knocking began at the door; David walked softly to his desk and picked up his notebook.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading An imperative knocking began at the door; David walked softly to his desk and picked up his notebook.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading An imperative knocking began at the door; David walked softly to his desk and picked up his notebook.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Dr. David Wong stepped out from behind the large bookcase, listening.
bookcasenounUS /ˈbʊkkeɪs/
a piece of furniture with shelves for storing books
From this reading Dr. David Wong stepped out from behind the large bookcase, listening.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
an occurrence of something
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading Dr. David Wong stepped out from behind the large bookcase, listening.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading An imperative knocking began at the door; David walked softly to his desk and picked up his notebook.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading An imperative knocking began at the door; David walked softly to his desk and picked up his notebook.
door-knob
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door-knob turned, then rattled.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. David Wong stepped out from behind the large bookcase, listening.
extendingverbUS /ɪkˈstendɪŋ/
-ing form of “extend” — extend in scope or range or area
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Dr. David Wong stepped out from behind the large bookcase, listening.
handleverbUS /ˈhændəl/
be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading An imperative knocking began at the door; David walked softly to his desk and picked up his notebook.
imperativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈperətɪv/
requiring attention or action
From this reading An imperative knocking began at the door; David walked softly to his desk and picked up his notebook.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading An imperative knocking began at the door; David walked softly to his desk and picked up his notebook.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Dr. David Wong stepped out from behind the large bookcase, listening.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading Dr. David Wong stepped out from behind the large bookcase, listening.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
notebooknounUS /ˈnoʊtbʊk/
a book with blank pages for recording notes or memoranda
From this reading An imperative knocking began at the door; David walked softly to his desk and picked up his notebook.
obliteratingverbUS /əˈblɪtəreɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “obliterate” — mark for deletion, rub off, or erase
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Dr. David Wong stepped out from behind the large bookcase, listening.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
passportnounUS /ˈpæspɔːrt/
any authorization to pass or go somewhere
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading An imperative knocking began at the door; David walked softly to his desk and picked up his notebook.
pivotedverbUS /ˈpɪvətɪd/
past form of “pivot” — turn on a pivot
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
compacted by ironing
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
rattledadjectiveUS /ˈrætəld/
thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)
From this reading The door-knob turned, then rattled.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
Sidenote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
without speaking
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
with low volume
From this reading An imperative knocking began at the door; David walked softly to his desk and picked up his notebook.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Dr. David Wong stepped out from behind the large bookcase, listening.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The door-knob turned, then rattled.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
the upper part of anything
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The door-knob turned, then rattled.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading An imperative knocking began at the door; David walked softly to his desk and picked up his notebook.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading An imperative knocking began at the door; David walked softly to his desk and picked up his notebook.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading He pressed the brass handle of the top shelf and the case silently pivoted back to become part of the wall, obliterating the dark passage behind it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
Wong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. David Wong stepped out from behind the large bookcase, listening.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading [Sidenote: Man, it would appear, can adapt to any form of society ... but not one in which the knowledge of extending life becomes a passport to death!]
