used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
admireverbUS /ædˈmaɪr/
feel admiration for
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He was devoted to his profession, and proud of being a soldier, but he had never had a bloodthirsty thought.
bladenounUS /bleɪd/
especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
bloodthirstyadjectiveUS /ˈblʌdθɜːrsti/
marked by eagerness to resort to violence and bloodshed
From this reading He was devoted to his profession, and proud of being a soldier, but he had never had a bloodthirsty thought.
bluntadjectiveUS /blʌnt/
having a broad or rounded end
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
brightly-burnished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
buzzingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌzɪŋ/
noisy like the sound of a bee
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
CagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading Out of his Cage.
an occurrence of something
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading He was devoted to his profession, and proud of being a soldier, but he had never had a bloodthirsty thought.
someone who is a detective
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was devoted to his profession, and proud of being a soldier, but he had never had a bloodthirsty thought.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was devoted to his profession, and proud of being a soldier, but he had never had a bloodthirsty thought.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Out of his Cage.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
hornnounUS /hɔːrn/
a noisemaker (as at parties or games) that makes a loud noise when you blow through it
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
mellowadjectiveUS /ˈmeloʊ/
unhurried and relaxed
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
miniaturenounUS /ˈmɪniətʃʊr/
painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
mosquitonounUS /məˈskiːtoʊ/
two-winged insect whose female has a long proboscis to pierce the skin and suck the blood of humans and animals
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He was devoted to his profession, and proud of being a soldier, but he had never had a bloodthirsty thought.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
night-moths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Out of his Cage.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
on one occasion
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Out of his Cage.
the body of people in a learned occupation
From this reading He was devoted to his profession, and proud of being a soldier, but he had never had a bloodthirsty thought.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading He was devoted to his profession, and proud of being a soldier, but he had never had a bloodthirsty thought.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
retiringadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrɪŋ/
not arrogant or presuming
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
shockinglyadverbUS /ˈʃɑːkɪŋli/
extremely
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading He was devoted to his profession, and proud of being a soldier, but he had never had a bloodthirsty thought.
soundingadjectiveUS /ˈsaʊndɪŋ/
appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
carry out
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
a special situation
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
precisely as stated
From this reading The brightly-burnished blade flashed in the soft, mellow light, and Dick thought it was very beautiful; but now, for the first time, it struck him that it was shockingly blunt.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first thing Dick did on retiring to his quarters that night was to take his sword out of its case and admire its appearance once more.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The next, to draw it and hold it close to the lamp, about which the night-moths were buzzing and a mosquito was sounding its miniature cheerful horn.
