used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
achingadjectiveUS /ˈeɪkɪŋ/
causing a dull and steady pain
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
artisticadjectiveUS /ɑːrˈtɪstɪk/
relating to or characteristic of art or artists
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
AustinnounUS /ˈɔːstən/
state capital of Texas on the Colorado River; site of the University of Texas
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
next to; at the side of
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
centrifugaladjectiveUS /ˈsentrɪfjuːɡəl/
tending to move away from a center
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
chantingnounUS /ˈtʃæntɪŋ/
the act of singing in a monotonous tone
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
ELUSIVEadjectiveUS /ɪˈluːsɪv/
difficult to describe
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
exultationnoun
a feeling of extreme joy
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
fanciesnounUS /ˈfænsiz/
plural of “fancy” — something many people believe that is false
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
fancifuladjectiveUS /ˈfænsɪfəl/
indulging in or influenced by fancy
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
GUMnounUS /ɡʌm/
a preparation (usually made of sweetened chicle) for chewing
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
hummingnounUS /ˈhʌmɪŋ/
a humming noise
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
indulgedverbUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒd/
past form of “indulge” — give free rein to
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
plural of “limb” — one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
merrilyadverbUS /ˈmerəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
a particular point in time
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
oddsnounUS /ɑːdz/
the likelihood of a thing occurring rather than not occurring
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
on one occasion
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
pulsatory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
pumpverbUS /pʌmp/
operate like a pump; move up and down, like a handle or a pedal
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
rattlingnounUS /ˈrætlɪŋ/
a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
recognisedadjectiveUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪzd/
provided with a secure reputation
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
respectsnounUS /rɪˈspekts/
(often used with “pay”) a formal expression of esteem
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
shrewdadjectiveUS /ʃruːd/
marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
splashverbUS /splæʃ/
cause (a liquid) to spatter about, especially with force
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
make steady
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
not in physical motion
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
stridentlyadverbUS /ˈstraɪdəntli/
in a strident manner
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
subjectionnoun
forced submission to control by others
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
swampsnounUS /swɑːmps/
plural of “swamp” — low land that is seasonally flooded; has more woody plants than a marsh and better drainage than a bog
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
temperamentnounUS /ˈtemprəmənt/
your usual mood
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
thrillnounUS /θrɪl/
the swift release of a store of affective force
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading Still, there were times when he vaguely recognised that there might, after all, be a reality behind the fancies he now and then indulged in with a smile, and that night it seemed to him that the big centrifugal pump was chanting a song of triumph.
wakened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
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 pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The pump was running well, for he could hear the steady splash of water falling into the creek, and once more a little thrill of exultation ran through him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The odds and ends on the table beside him were rattling merrily, and a deep pulsatory humming rang stridently through the silence of the swamps.
at the time that
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
in the company of; together with
From this reading ELUSIVE GUM It was in the small hours when Austin wakened, and, listening a moment, stretched his aching limbs with a little sigh of content.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading He was not in most respects a fanciful man, for in him the artistic temperament was held in due subjection by a knowledge of the world and shrewd practical sense.
