used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
quickly and without warning
From this reading When the solid world melts abruptly beneath the feet one feels disinclined for speech.
react verbally
From this reading I Sue did not answer.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Behind her the sky gave a low chuckle, as if this was what it had been waiting for.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
AvoidingverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪŋ/
-ing form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Behind her the sky gave a low chuckle, as if this was what it had been waiting for.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind her the sky gave a low chuckle, as if this was what it had been waiting for.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading When the solid world melts abruptly beneath the feet one feels disinclined for speech.
blankadjectiveUS /blæŋk/
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
chucklenounUS /ˈtʃʌkəl/
a soft partly suppressed laugh
From this reading Behind her the sky gave a low chuckle, as if this was what it had been waiting for.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I Sue did not answer.
disinclinedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsɪnˈklaɪnd/
unwilling because of mild dislike or disapproval
From this reading When the solid world melts abruptly beneath the feet one feels disinclined for speech.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
plural of “feel” — an intuitive awareness
From this reading When the solid world melts abruptly beneath the feet one feels disinclined for speech.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading When the solid world melts abruptly beneath the feet one feels disinclined for speech.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When the solid world melts abruptly beneath the feet one feels disinclined for speech.
fussilyadverb
in a fussy manner
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
GalahadnounUS /ˈɡæləhæd/
(Arthurian legend) the most virtuous knight of the Round Table; was able to see the Holy Grail
From this reading "Up there," proceeded the Hon. Galahad, pointing to the small library, "is the room where I work.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Behind her the sky gave a low chuckle, as if this was what it had been waiting for.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Behind her the sky gave a low chuckle, as if this was what it had been waiting for.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Behind her the sky gave a low chuckle, as if this was what it had been waiting for.
Hon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Up there," proceeded the Hon. Galahad, pointing to the small library, "is the room where I work.
hoppedverbUS /hɑːpt/
inflected form of “hop” — jump lightly
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I Sue did not answer.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Behind her the sky gave a low chuckle, as if this was what it had been waiting for.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Up there," proceeded the Hon. Galahad, pointing to the small library, "is the room where I work.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Behind her the sky gave a low chuckle, as if this was what it had been waiting for.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
a room where books are kept
From this reading "Up there," proceeded the Hon. Galahad, pointing to the small library, "is the room where I work.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Behind her the sky gave a low chuckle, as if this was what it had been waiting for.
meltsnounUS /melts/
plural of “melt” — the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading When the solid world melts abruptly beneath the feet one feels disinclined for speech.
monoclenounUS /ˈmɑː.nə.kəl/
A single round eyeglass kept in position by the muscles around the eye, worn by gentleman aristocrats.
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I Sue did not answer.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When the solid world melts abruptly beneath the feet one feels disinclined for speech.
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading "Up there," proceeded the Hon. Galahad, pointing to the small library, "is the room where I work.
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading "Up there," proceeded the Hon. Galahad, pointing to the small library, "is the room where I work.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading "Up there," proceeded the Hon. Galahad, pointing to the small library, "is the room where I work.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Behind her the sky gave a low chuckle, as if this was what it had been waiting for.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Up there," proceeded the Hon. Galahad, pointing to the small library, "is the room where I work.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading When the solid world melts abruptly beneath the feet one feels disinclined for speech.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading When the solid world melts abruptly beneath the feet one feels disinclined for speech.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
SueverbUS /suː/
institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against
From this reading I Sue did not answer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the solid world melts abruptly beneath the feet one feels disinclined for speech.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "Up there," proceeded the Hon. Galahad, pointing to the small library, "is the room where I work.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Behind her the sky gave a low chuckle, as if this was what it had been waiting for.
thrushnounUS /θrʌʃ/
candidiasis of the oral cavity; seen mostly in infants or debilitated adults
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Up there," proceeded the Hon. Galahad, pointing to the small library, "is the room where I work.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Up there," proceeded the Hon. Galahad, pointing to the small library, "is the room where I work.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Behind her the sky gave a low chuckle, as if this was what it had been waiting for.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Behind her the sky gave a low chuckle, as if this was what it had been waiting for.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Behind her the sky gave a low chuckle, as if this was what it had been waiting for.
at the time that
From this reading When the solid world melts abruptly beneath the feet one feels disinclined for speech.
in or at the place that
From this reading "Up there," proceeded the Hon. Galahad, pointing to the small library, "is the room where I work.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Avoiding the monocle, she stood looking with wide blank eyes at a thrush which hopped fussily about the lawn.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading "Up there," proceeded the Hon. Galahad, pointing to the small library, "is the room where I work.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading When the solid world melts abruptly beneath the feet one feels disinclined for speech.
