used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "I suppose he died in his bed, miss?" he asked softly.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading "I suppose he died in his bed, miss?" he asked softly.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
bicyclenounUS /ˈbaɪsɪkəl/
a wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
BRASS-BOUND
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the sergeant found his tongue more readily.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading "I suppose he died in his bed, miss?" he asked softly.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
dumbfoundedadjectiveUS /ˈdʌmfaʊndɪd/
as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
set up or found
From this reading But the sergeant found his tongue more readily.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
Gilverthwaite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
and nothing more
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
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 And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
Maisie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "I suppose he died in his bed, miss?" he asked softly.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But the sergeant found his tongue more readily.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
a form of address for a man
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
information about recent and important events
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
police-sergeant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
without much difficulty
From this reading But the sergeant found his tongue more readily.
Identical; not different.
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
sergeantnounUS /ˈsɑːrdʒənt/
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading But the sergeant found his tongue more readily.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
with low volume
From this reading "I suppose he died in his bed, miss?" he asked softly.
be standing; be upright
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
express a supposition
From this reading "I suppose he died in his bed, miss?" he asked softly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading But the sergeant found his tongue more readily.
precisely as stated
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading And as for me, I was dumbfounded, for though I had seen well enough that Mr. Gilverthwaite was very ill when I left him, I was certainly a long way from thinking him like to die.
at the time that
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Indeed, I was so astonished that all I could do was to stand staring at Maisie in the grey light which was just coming between the midnight and the morning.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading THE BRASS-BOUND CHEST The police-sergeant had got off his bicycle at the same time that I jumped from mine, and he was close behind me when Maisie and I met, and I heard him give a sharp whistle at her news.
