used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From New York, on the mail-steamer, came a man called Cuddlehead, and took up his abode in a narrow hotel near the waterfront.
abodenounUS /əˈboʊd/
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading From New York, on the mail-steamer, came a man called Cuddlehead, and took up his abode in a narrow hotel near the waterfront.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He arrived in the city only an hour behind O'Rourke.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading He arrived in the city only an hour behind O'Rourke.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
Bahia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the south, coastwise from Bahia, came Bertram St. Ives O'Rourke.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He arrived in the city only an hour behind O'Rourke.
Bertram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the south, coastwise from Bahia, came Bertram St. Ives O'Rourke.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading From New York, on the mail-steamer, came a man called Cuddlehead, and took up his abode in a narrow hotel near the waterfront.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From the south, coastwise from Bahia, came Bertram St. Ives O'Rourke.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
coastwiseadjective
along or following a coast
From this reading From the south, coastwise from Bahia, came Bertram St. Ives O'Rourke.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
Cuddlehead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From New York, on the mail-steamer, came a man called Cuddlehead, and took up his abode in a narrow hotel near the waterfront.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was chance, pure and simple, for he had no idea of Hemming's whereabouts.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the south, coastwise from Bahia, came Bertram St. Ives O'Rourke.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This was chance, pure and simple, for he had no idea of Hemming's whereabouts.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This was chance, pure and simple, for he had no idea of Hemming's whereabouts.
HemmingverbUS /ˈhemɪŋ/
inflected form of “hem” — fold over and sew together to provide with a hem
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
Hemming's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was chance, pure and simple, for he had no idea of Hemming's whereabouts.
HicksnounUS /hɪks/
plural of “hick” — a person who is not very intelligent or interested in culture
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading From New York, on the mail-steamer, came a man called Cuddlehead, and took up his abode in a narrow hotel near the waterfront.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He arrived in the city only an hour behind O'Rourke.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading This was chance, pure and simple, for he had no idea of Hemming's whereabouts.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
IvesnounUS /aɪvz/
United States composer noted for his innovative use of polytonality (1874-1954)
From this reading From the south, coastwise from Bahia, came Bertram St. Ives O'Rourke.
mail-steamer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From New York, on the mail-steamer, came a man called Cuddlehead, and took up his abode in a narrow hotel near the waterfront.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading From New York, on the mail-steamer, came a man called Cuddlehead, and took up his abode in a narrow hotel near the waterfront.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading From New York, on the mail-steamer, came a man called Cuddlehead, and took up his abode in a narrow hotel near the waterfront.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading From New York, on the mail-steamer, came a man called Cuddlehead, and took up his abode in a narrow hotel near the waterfront.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading From New York, on the mail-steamer, came a man called Cuddlehead, and took up his abode in a narrow hotel near the waterfront.
not any; not one
From this reading This was chance, pure and simple, for he had no idea of Hemming's whereabouts.
O'Rourke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the south, coastwise from Bahia, came Bertram St. Ives O'Rourke.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
and nothing more
From this reading He arrived in the city only an hour behind O'Rourke.
PERNAMBUCOnoun
a port city of northeastern Brazil on the Atlantic
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
free of extraneous elements of any kind
From this reading This was chance, pure and simple, for he had no idea of Hemming's whereabouts.
shapingnounUS /ˈʃeɪpɪŋ/
any process serving to define the shape of something
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading This was chance, pure and simple, for he had no idea of Hemming's whereabouts.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading From the south, coastwise from Bahia, came Bertram St. Ives O'Rourke.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the south, coastwise from Bahia, came Bertram St. Ives O'Rourke.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was chance, pure and simple, for he had no idea of Hemming's whereabouts.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading From New York, on the mail-steamer, came a man called Cuddlehead, and took up his abode in a narrow hotel near the waterfront.
tossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading From New York, on the mail-steamer, came a man called Cuddlehead, and took up his abode in a narrow hotel near the waterfront.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was chance, pure and simple, for he had no idea of Hemming's whereabouts.
waterfrontnounUS /ˈwɔːtərfrʌnt/
the area of a city (such as a harbor or dockyard) alongside a body of water
From this reading From New York, on the mail-steamer, came a man called Cuddlehead, and took up his abode in a narrow hotel near the waterfront.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
whereaboutsnounUS /ˈwerəbaʊts/
the general location where something is
From this reading This was chance, pure and simple, for he had no idea of Hemming's whereabouts.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading CHANCE IN PERNAMBUCO While Hicks tossed about in his fever dreams, and Hemming shook his command into form, away on the coast, in the city of Pernambuco, unusual things were shaping.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading From New York, on the mail-steamer, came a man called Cuddlehead, and took up his abode in a narrow hotel near the waterfront.
