used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wet fabric and bent and bristling wire.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
(of mail) marked with a destination
From this reading He stumbled over the sill, halted, and turning, addressed the man who had opened the door.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He carried the ruin of what had been an umbrella in his hand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He carried the ruin of what had been an umbrella in his hand.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wet fabric and bent and bristling wire.
blownadjectiveUS /bloʊn/
being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor
From this reading It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wet fabric and bent and bristling wire.
breathlesslyadverbUS /ˈbreθləsli/
in a breathless manner
From this reading "Cap'n," he stammered, breathlessly, "I--I--I've come to see you.
brimnounUS /brɪm/
the top edge of a vessel or other container
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
bristlingverbUS /ˈbrɪsəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “bristle” — be in a state of movement or action
From this reading It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wet fabric and bent and bristling wire.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wet fabric and bent and bristling wire.
Cap'n
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cap'n," he stammered, breathlessly, "I--I--I've come to see you.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading He carried the ruin of what had been an umbrella in his hand.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Cap'n," he stammered, breathlessly, "I--I--I've come to see you.
crumpledadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌmpəld/
of metal e.g.
From this reading It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wet fabric and bent and bristling wire.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He stumbled over the sill, halted, and turning, addressed the man who had opened the door.
drippingnounUS /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/
a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
fabricnounUS /ˈfæbrɪk/
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wet fabric and bent and bristling wire.
flappingnounUS /ˈflæpɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He carried the ruin of what had been an umbrella in his hand.
haltedverbUS /ˈhɔːltəd/
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading He stumbled over the sill, halted, and turning, addressed the man who had opened the door.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He carried the ruin of what had been an umbrella in his hand.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He carried the ruin of what had been an umbrella in his hand.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Cap'n," he stammered, breathlessly, "I--I--I've come to see you.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cap'n," he stammered, breathlessly, "I--I--I've come to see you.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He carried the ruin of what had been an umbrella in his hand.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wet fabric and bent and bristling wire.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wet fabric and bent and bristling wire.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wet fabric and bent and bristling wire.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He stumbled over the sill, halted, and turning, addressed the man who had opened the door.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wet fabric and bent and bristling wire.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He stumbled over the sill, halted, and turning, addressed the man who had opened the door.
overcoatnounUS /ˈoʊvərkoʊt/
a heavy coat worn over clothes in winter
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
pouringadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/
flowing profusely
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading He carried the ruin of what had been an umbrella in his hand.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Cap'n," he stammered, breathlessly, "I--I--I've come to see you.
sillnounUS /sɪl/
structural member consisting of a continuous horizontal timber forming the lowest member of a framework or supporting structure
From this reading He stumbled over the sill, halted, and turning, addressed the man who had opened the door.
skirtsnounUS /skɜːrts/
plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
stammered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cap'n," he stammered, breathlessly, "I--I--I've come to see you.
stumbledverbUS /ˈstʌmbəld/
past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading He stumbled over the sill, halted, and turning, addressed the man who had opened the door.
tanglenounUS /ˈtæŋɡəl/
a twisted and tangled mass that is highly interwoven
From this reading It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wet fabric and bent and bristling wire.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Cap'n," he stammered, breathlessly, "I--I--I've come to see you.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading He stumbled over the sill, halted, and turning, addressed the man who had opened the door.
umbrellanounUS /əmˈbrelə/
a lightweight handheld collapsible canopy
From this reading He carried the ruin of what had been an umbrella in his hand.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wet fabric and bent and bristling wire.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wet fabric and bent and bristling wire.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He carried the ruin of what had been an umbrella in his hand.
which person or people
From this reading He stumbled over the sill, halted, and turning, addressed the man who had opened the door.
wirenounUS /ˈwaɪər/
ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wet fabric and bent and bristling wire.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Cap'n," he stammered, breathlessly, "I--I--I've come to see you.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his dripping overcoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim of his hat.
