used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
(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 All eyes were fixed in breathless excitement on Me Dain.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading All eyes were fixed in breathless excitement on Me Dain.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
Dain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All eyes were fixed in breathless excitement on Me Dain.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading "Lump here," grunted Me Dain, drawing his knife.
ENDEDadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading HOW THINGS ENDED.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading All eyes were fixed in breathless excitement on Me Dain.
exploredverbUS /ɪkˈsplɔːrd/
past form of “explore” — inquire into
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
opinion or judgment
From this reading All eyes were fixed in breathless excitement on Me Dain.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading All eyes were fixed in breathless excitement on Me Dain.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
gruntedverbUS /ˈɡrʌntɪd/
past form of “grunt” — issue a grunting, low, animal-like noise
From this reading "Lump here," grunted Me Dain, drawing his knife.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Lump here," grunted Me Dain, drawing his knife.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
HOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW THINGS ENDED.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All eyes were fixed in breathless excitement on Me Dain.
intricaciesnounUS /ˈɪntrəkəsiz/
plural of “intricacy” — marked by elaborately complex detail
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading "Lump here," grunted Me Dain, drawing his knife.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
LumpnounUS /lʌmp/
a compact mass
From this reading "Lump here," grunted Me Dain, drawing his knife.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading All eyes were fixed in breathless excitement on Me Dain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All eyes were fixed in breathless excitement on Me Dain.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
practisedadjectiveUS /ˈpræktɪst/
skillful after much practice
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
with speed
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
RubynounUS /ˈruːbi/
a transparent piece of ruby that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
snicks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
moving very fast
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading HOW THINGS ENDED.
thriceadverbUS /θraɪs/
three times
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
two times
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He made a couple of rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his old master.
the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All eyes were fixed in breathless excitement on Me Dain.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading His swift, practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby King.
