used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
abstractedadjectiveUS /ˈæbstræktɪd/
lost in thought; showing preoccupation
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
eagerly desirous
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
apprehensionnounUS /ˌæprɪˈhenʃən/
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
complimentverbUS /ˈkɑːmpləment/
say something to someone that expresses praise
From this reading "Good-morning, Cuthbert, I must compliment you on your early hours.
a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
Cuthbert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
daintyadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪnti/
delicately beautiful
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
dealtverbUS /delt/
inflected form of “deal” — act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
deepenedverbUS /ˈdiːpənd/
past form of “deepen” — make more intense, stronger, or more marked
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
depressedadjectiveUS /dɪˈprest/
lower than previously
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading "Good-morning, Cuthbert, I must compliment you on your early hours.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
in a gradual manner
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
Good-morning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Good-morning, Cuthbert, I must compliment you on your early hours.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
in a grave and sober manner
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading "Good-morning, Cuthbert, I must compliment you on your early hours.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Good-morning, Cuthbert, I must compliment you on your early hours.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
insouciancenounUS /ˌɪnˈsuːsiəns/
the cheerful feeling you have when nothing is troubling you
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
Laurance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
the act of departing
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
held up in the air
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
manlyadjectiveUS /ˈmænli/
possessing qualities befitting a man
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Good-morning, Cuthbert, I must compliment you on your early hours.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
obliviousadjectiveUS /əˈblɪviəs/
(followed by “to” or “of”) lacking conscious awareness of
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
preoccupiedadjectiveUS /priˈɑːkjəpaɪd/
deeply absorbed in thought
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
PushingnounUS /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/
the act of applying force in order to move something away
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
reverienounUS /ˈrevəri/
absentminded dreaming while awake
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
precisely, exactly
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
seemingadjectiveUS /ˈsiːmɪŋ/
appearing as such but not necessarily so
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
sleeplessadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpləs/
experiencing or accompanied by sleeplessness
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
slippersnounUS /ˈslɪpərz/
plural of “slipper” — low footwear that can be slipped on and off easily; usually worn indoors
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
Sybaritenoun
a person addicted to luxury and pleasures of the senses
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
thirty-sevenadjective
being seven more than thirty
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In his right hand he held, partly lifted, the cup of coffee; upon the left he rested his head, seeming abstracted, oblivious of the dainty dishes that invited his attention.
having passed out of existence
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
precisely as stated
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
at the time that
From this reading Pushing back his chair, he sat for some time in a profound and evidently painful reverie, and when his father came in, and closed the door behind him, the cloud of apprehension deepened.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading After a sleepless night, Cuthbert Laurance sat in dressing gown and slippers before the table, on which was arranged his breakfast.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
womanishly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
a late time of life
From this reading The graceful _insouciance_ of the Sybarite had vanished, and though the thirty-seven years of his life had dealt very gently with his manly beauty, leaving few lines about his womanishly fair brow, he seemed to-day gravely preoccupied, anxious, and depressed.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Good-morning, Cuthbert, I must compliment you on your early hours.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Good-morning, Cuthbert, I must compliment you on your early hours.
