used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
ABOUTprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading ABOUT ANOTHER MARRIAGE.
(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 Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading ABOUT ANOTHER MARRIAGE.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
cigarsnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːrz/
plural of “cigar” — a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
declinedverbUS /dɪˈklaɪnd/
past form of “decline” — grow worse
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not seem to know what he was about.
having the place or position changed
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Whatever he did was done mechanically.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
engagementsnounUS /enˈɡeɪdʒmənts/
plural of “engagement” — a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
entertainmentnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
evening'snounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/
possessive form of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
at any time
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
FredericknounUS /ˈfredrɪk/
a town in northern Maryland to the west of Baltimore
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not seem to know what he was about.
helter-skelteradjectiveUS /ˌheltərˈskeltər/
lacking a visible order or organization
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
incidentsnounUS /ˈɪnsədənts/
plural of “incident” — a single distinct event
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He did not seem to know what he was about.
a room where books are kept
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading ABOUT ANOTHER MARRIAGE.
mechanicallyadverbUS /məˈkænɪkli/
in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism
From this reading Whatever he did was done mechanically.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not seem to know what he was about.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
racedverbUS /reɪst/
past form of “race” — move hurridly
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He did not seem to know what he was about.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
in the near future
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
in a strange manner
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He declined all engagements, never went to his club, went home of nights, and shut himself up in the library or his own room, smoking a greater number of cigars than he had ever done in his life before, and thinking of _her_.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He did not seem to know what he was about.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Whatever he did was done mechanically.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
a late time of life
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
but in spite of that
From this reading Frederick was in so strangely disturbed a state of mind that this evening’s entertainment--as well as all the other incidents of these hurrying days, which seemed years as they passed, yet appeared to have raced by him helter-skelter as soon as they were gone--was to him as a dream.
