used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
(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 Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
apologiseverbUS /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪz/
defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
From this reading “Mr Bundy,” he said, “I apologise to you with all my heart.”
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading “The sarcasm, the innuendo,” said Gilead, “of which I cannot pretend to hold myself guiltless, must have appeared to you as pointless as they were impertinent.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
Bundy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mr Bundy,” he said, “I apologise to you with all my heart.”
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The sarcasm, the innuendo,” said Gilead, “of which I cannot pretend to hold myself guiltless, must have appeared to you as pointless as they were impertinent.
cod-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
dumfoundered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My sole excuse is that I took you for someone else.”
accept an excuse for
From this reading My sole excuse is that I took you for someone else.”
figurativelyadverbUS /fɪˈɡjʊrətɪvli/
in a figurative sense
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
gaspingverbUS /ˈɡæspɪŋ/
-ing form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
a man of refinement
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
Gilead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
guiltlessadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪltlɪs/
free from evil or guilt
From this reading “The sarcasm, the innuendo,” said Gilead, “of which I cannot pretend to hold myself guiltless, must have appeared to you as pointless as they were impertinent.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “The sarcasm, the innuendo,” said Gilead, “of which I cannot pretend to hold myself guiltless, must have appeared to you as pointless as they were impertinent.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading “Mr Bundy,” he said, “I apologise to you with all my heart.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading “The sarcasm, the innuendo,” said Gilead, “of which I cannot pretend to hold myself guiltless, must have appeared to you as pointless as they were impertinent.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Mr Bundy,” he said, “I apologise to you with all my heart.”
impertinentadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɜːrtənənt/
characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
From this reading “The sarcasm, the innuendo,” said Gilead, “of which I cannot pretend to hold myself guiltless, must have appeared to you as pointless as they were impertinent.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
innuendonounUS /ˌɪnjuːˈendoʊ/
an indirect (and usually malicious) implication
From this reading “The sarcasm, the innuendo,” said Gilead, “of which I cannot pretend to hold myself guiltless, must have appeared to you as pointless as they were impertinent.
involuntarilyadverbUS /ˌɪnvoʊˈlʌntərɪli/
against your will
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My sole excuse is that I took you for someone else.”
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
a particular point in time
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Mr Bundy,” he said, “I apologise to you with all my heart.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “The sarcasm, the innuendo,” said Gilead, “of which I cannot pretend to hold myself guiltless, must have appeared to you as pointless as they were impertinent.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Mr Bundy,” he said, “I apologise to you with all my heart.”
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “The sarcasm, the innuendo,” said Gilead, “of which I cannot pretend to hold myself guiltless, must have appeared to you as pointless as they were impertinent.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
obeseadjectiveUS /oʊˈbiːs/
excessively fat
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
and nothing more
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
pointlessadjectiveUS /ˈpɔɪntləs/
not having a point especially a sharp point
From this reading “The sarcasm, the innuendo,” said Gilead, “of which I cannot pretend to hold myself guiltless, must have appeared to you as pointless as they were impertinent.
pressurenounUS /ˈpreʃər/
the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
pretendverbUS /priˈtend/
make believe with the intent to deceive
From this reading “The sarcasm, the innuendo,” said Gilead, “of which I cannot pretend to hold myself guiltless, must have appeared to you as pointless as they were impertinent.
with speed
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
ralliedverbUS /ˈrælid/
inflected form of “rally” — gather
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Mr Bundy,” he said, “I apologise to you with all my heart.”
sarcasmnounUS /ˈsɑːrkæzəm/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading “The sarcasm, the innuendo,” said Gilead, “of which I cannot pretend to hold myself guiltless, must have appeared to you as pointless as they were impertinent.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
sincereadjectiveUS /sɪnˈsɪr/
open and genuine; not deceitful
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
solenounUS /soʊl/
the underside of footwear or a golf club
From this reading My sole excuse is that I took you for someone else.”
a person, without saying who
From this reading My sole excuse is that I took you for someone else.”
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
stiltsnounUS /stɪlts/
plural of “stilt” — a column of wood or steel or concrete that is driven into the ground to provide support for a structure
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
stranger'snounUS /ˈstreɪndʒərz/
possessive form of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
stupefactionnoun
a feeling of stupefied astonishment
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
summoningnounUS /ˈsʌmənɪŋ/
calling up supposed supernatural forces by spells and incantations
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “The sarcasm, the innuendo,” said Gilead, “of which I cannot pretend to hold myself guiltless, must have appeared to you as pointless as they were impertinent.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading My sole excuse is that I took you for someone else.”
unmistakablyadverbUS /ˌʌnmɪˈsteɪkəbli/
without possibility of mistake
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
urbanitynoun
polished courtesy; elegance of manner
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
precisely as stated
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Utterly dumfoundered as he was for the moment, Gilead very quickly rallied from his stupefaction, and, summoning all his native urbanity to his aid, advanced a step and seized the stranger’s right hand in both of his own.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “The sarcasm, the innuendo,” said Gilead, “of which I cannot pretend to hold myself guiltless, must have appeared to you as pointless as they were impertinent.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His tone was so unmistakably sincere, that the obese gentleman descended, figuratively, from the stilts on which he was mounted and involuntarily returned the pressure of his fingers, only gasping a little in a slow and cod-like manner.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Mr Bundy,” he said, “I apologise to you with all my heart.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Mr Bundy,” he said, “I apologise to you with all my heart.”
