used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The words and the frenzied gestures told a story which he understood.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
anew
From this reading JACK HALLOWAY AGAIN.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The words and the frenzied gestures told a story which he understood.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
driftverbUS /drɪft/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
flappingnounUS /ˈflæpɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
foamingadjectiveUS /ˈfoʊmɪŋ/
emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
frenziedadjectiveUS /ˈfrenzid/
affected with or marked by frenzy or mania uncontrolled by reason
From this reading The words and the frenzied gestures told a story which he understood.
gesturesnounUS /ˈdʒestʃərz/
plural of “gesture” — motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading The words and the frenzied gestures told a story which he understood.
HALLOWAY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JACK HALLOWAY AGAIN.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The words and the frenzied gestures told a story which he understood.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
a small worthless amount
From this reading JACK HALLOWAY AGAIN.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
looselyadverbUS /ˈluːsli/
in a relaxed manner; not rigid
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man was quick-witted.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
quick-wittedadjective
mentally nimble and resourceful
From this reading The man was quick-witted.
any competition
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
move hurridly
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
having a supporting base
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The words and the frenzied gestures told a story which he understood.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The man was quick-witted.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The words and the frenzied gestures told a story which he understood.
the upper part of anything
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
torrentnounUS /ˈtɔːrənt/
a heavy rain
From this reading The top of the bank was so near the surface that the man dropped on his face, so as to be able to reach forward and downward to the foaming torrent.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading The words and the frenzied gestures told a story which he understood.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The man was quick-witted.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The words and the frenzied gestures told a story which he understood.
a Caucasian
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Standing close to the edge of the stream, he peered into it and caught sight of a white face, loosely flapping limbs and the helpless drift of a human being, borne toward him with the speed of a race horse.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The words and the frenzied gestures told a story which he understood.
