used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading My hand shook as I lit a cigar.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The whole affair had seemed so simple at first, almost humorous.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The whole affair had seemed so simple at first, almost humorous.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading My hand shook as I lit a cigar.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The whole affair had seemed so simple at first, almost humorous.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading This was becoming serious, a ghastly tragedy, in the playing of which I scarcely knew my part.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The earliest impression being that it was no more than a good joke.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading My hand shook as I lit a cigar.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
earliestadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrliəst/
(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early
From this reading The earliest impression being that it was no more than a good joke.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The whole affair had seemed so simple at first, almost humorous.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
ghastlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡæstli/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading This was becoming serious, a ghastly tragedy, in the playing of which I scarcely knew my part.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The earliest impression being that it was no more than a good joke.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The whole affair had seemed so simple at first, almost humorous.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading My hand shook as I lit a cigar.
humorousadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmərəs/
full of or characterized by humor
From this reading The whole affair had seemed so simple at first, almost humorous.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading The earliest impression being that it was no more than a good joke.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This was becoming serious, a ghastly tragedy, in the playing of which I scarcely knew my part.
INTOprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading The earliest impression being that it was no more than a good joke.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading This was becoming serious, a ghastly tragedy, in the playing of which I scarcely knew my part.
provided with artificial light
From this reading My hand shook as I lit a cigar.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The earliest impression being that it was no more than a good joke.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My hand shook as I lit a cigar.
not any; not one
From this reading The earliest impression being that it was no more than a good joke.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This was becoming serious, a ghastly tragedy, in the playing of which I scarcely knew my part.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading This was becoming serious, a ghastly tragedy, in the playing of which I scarcely knew my part.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading This was becoming serious, a ghastly tragedy, in the playing of which I scarcely knew my part.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
only a very short time before
From this reading This was becoming serious, a ghastly tragedy, in the playing of which I scarcely knew my part.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The whole affair had seemed so simple at first, almost humorous.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading This was becoming serious, a ghastly tragedy, in the playing of which I scarcely knew my part.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading My hand shook as I lit a cigar.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading The whole affair had seemed so simple at first, almost humorous.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The whole affair had seemed so simple at first, almost humorous.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The earliest impression being that it was no more than a good joke.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The earliest impression being that it was no more than a good joke.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I GET INTO THE GAME I crept back, closed the door behind me, and sat down facing it.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was becoming serious, a ghastly tragedy, in the playing of which I scarcely knew my part.
tragedynounUS /ˈtrædʒədi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading This was becoming serious, a ghastly tragedy, in the playing of which I scarcely knew my part.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was becoming serious, a ghastly tragedy, in the playing of which I scarcely knew my part.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This was becoming serious, a ghastly tragedy, in the playing of which I scarcely knew my part.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole affair had seemed so simple at first, almost humorous.
