used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading One rainy morning in April, Luther Trant sat alone in his office.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was for him an hour of idleness; he was reading fiction.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And, with his passion for making visible and recording the workings of the mind, he was taking a permanent record of his feelings as he read.
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading One rainy morning in April, Luther Trant sat alone in his office.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading The instrument strapped on Trant’s arm was called a sphygmograph.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The instrument strapped on Trant’s arm was called a sphygmograph.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
continualadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəl/
recurring regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading And, with his passion for making visible and recording the workings of the mind, he was taking a permanent record of his feelings as he read.
fictionnounUS /ˈfɪkʃən/
a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact
From this reading It was for him an hour of idleness; he was reading fiction.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was for him an hour of idleness; he was reading fiction.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One rainy morning in April, Luther Trant sat alone in his office.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It was for him an hour of idleness; he was reading fiction.
idlenessnounUS /ˈaɪdəlnəs/
having no employment
From this reading It was for him an hour of idleness; he was reading fiction.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One rainy morning in April, Luther Trant sat alone in his office.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was for him an hour of idleness; he was reading fiction.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
LuthernounUS /ˈluːθər/
German theologian who led the Reformation; believed that salvation is granted on the basis of faith rather than deeds (1483-1546)
From this reading One rainy morning in April, Luther Trant sat alone in his office.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading And, with his passion for making visible and recording the workings of the mind, he was taking a permanent record of his feelings as he read.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading And, with his passion for making visible and recording the workings of the mind, he was taking a permanent record of his feelings as he read.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading One rainy morning in April, Luther Trant sat alone in his office.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading One rainy morning in April, Luther Trant sat alone in his office.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One rainy morning in April, Luther Trant sat alone in his office.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading And, with his passion for making visible and recording the workings of the mind, he was taking a permanent record of his feelings as he read.
permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading And, with his passion for making visible and recording the workings of the mind, he was taking a permanent record of his feelings as he read.
rainyadjectiveUS /ˈreɪni/
(of weather) wet by periods of rain
From this reading One rainy morning in April, Luther Trant sat alone in his office.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading And, with his passion for making visible and recording the workings of the mind, he was taking a permanent record of his feelings as he read.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading It was for him an hour of idleness; he was reading fiction.
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading And, with his passion for making visible and recording the workings of the mind, he was taking a permanent record of his feelings as he read.
recordingnounUS /rəˈkɔːrdɪŋ/
a signal that encodes something (e.g., picture or sound) that has been recorded
From this reading And, with his passion for making visible and recording the workings of the mind, he was taking a permanent record of his feelings as he read.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading One rainy morning in April, Luther Trant sat alone in his office.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
sphygmograph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The instrument strapped on Trant’s arm was called a sphygmograph.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
strappedverbUS /stræpt/
inflected form of “strap” — tie with a strap
From this reading The instrument strapped on Trant’s arm was called a sphygmograph.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading And, with his passion for making visible and recording the workings of the mind, he was taking a permanent record of his feelings as he read.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And, with his passion for making visible and recording the workings of the mind, he was taking a permanent record of his feelings as he read.
tickedverbUS /tɪkt/
past form of “tick” — make a clicking or ticking sound
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
Trant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One rainy morning in April, Luther Trant sat alone in his office.
Trant's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The instrument strapped on Trant’s arm was called a sphygmograph.
typewrittenverbUS /ˈtaɪprɪtən/
inflected form of “typewrite” — write by means of a keyboard with types
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading And, with his passion for making visible and recording the workings of the mind, he was taking a permanent record of his feelings as he read.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was for him an hour of idleness; he was reading fiction.
look attentively
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And, with his passion for making visible and recording the workings of the mind, he was taking a permanent record of his feelings as he read.
workingsnounUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋz/
the internal mechanism of a device
From this reading And, with his passion for making visible and recording the workings of the mind, he was taking a permanent record of his feelings as he read.
wristnounUS /rɪst/
a joint between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones
From this reading On his wrist as he bent closely over a heap of typewritten pages spread before him on his desk, a small instrument in continual motion ticked like a watch.
