used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
(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 Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
in addition
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A tone as blank as a whitewashed wall between him and me.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “I suppose you are surprised to see me.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading A tone as blank as a whitewashed wall between him and me.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
blankadjectiveUS /blæŋk/
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading A tone as blank as a whitewashed wall between him and me.
lacking funds
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
detachedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtætʃt/
showing lack of emotional involvement
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A tone as blank as a whitewashed wall between him and me.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I suppose you are surprised to see me.”
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
and nothing more
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
numbnessnounUS /ˈnʌmnəs/
partial or total lack of sensation in a part of the body; a symptom of nerve damage or dysfunction
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
the act of departing politely
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
piano-tuner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
express in words
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “I suppose you are surprised to see me.”
silencedadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənst/
reduced to silence
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
express a supposition
From this reading “I suppose you are surprised to see me.”
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading “I suppose you are surprised to see me.”
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading A tone as blank as a whitewashed wall between him and me.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading A tone as blank as a whitewashed wall between him and me.
welcomingadjectiveUS /ˈwelkəmɪŋ/
very cordial
From this reading PARTING COMPANY Thank heaven for the instinct that silenced the welcoming “Billy!” before it broke from my lips.
whitewashedadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪtwɑːʃt/
coated with whitewash
From this reading A tone as blank as a whitewashed wall between him and me.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Thank heaven also for that numbness all over me that allowed me to say in a voice as detached as if it had been the piano-tuner to whom I’d just opened the door, “Oh! good morning.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I suppose you are surprised to see me.”
