used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Over the sea of heads arose a black and dismal object.
abstractverbUS /æbˈstrækt/
consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
alterationnounUS /ˌɔːltərˈeɪʃən/
an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Over the sea of heads arose a black and dismal object.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading Over the sea of heads arose a black and dismal object.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Tyburn was now at hand.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
bendverbUS /bend/
form a curve
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Over the sea of heads arose a black and dismal object.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
demeanournounUS /dɪˈmiːnər/
(behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading Over the sea of heads arose a black and dismal object.
endeavoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
apart from; not including
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
exclamationsnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃənz/
plural of “exclamation” — an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
gallowsnounUS /ˈɡæloʊz/
an instrument of execution consisting of a wooden frame from which a condemned person is executed by hanging
From this reading It was the gallows.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Tyburn was now at hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Over the sea of heads arose a black and dismal object.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the gallows.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
not any; not one
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Tyburn was now at hand.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading Over the sea of heads arose a black and dismal object.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Over the sea of heads arose a black and dismal object.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over the sea of heads arose a black and dismal object.
pityingverbUS /ˈpɪtiɪŋ/
-ing form of “pity” — share the suffering of
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
recitingverbUS /riˈsaɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “recite” — recite in elocution
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Over the sea of heads arose a black and dismal object.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Over the sea of heads arose a black and dismal object.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
in the direction of
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
Tyburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tyburn was now at hand.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Tyburn was now at hand.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This circumstance produced no further alteration in his demeanour except that he endeavoured to abstract himself from the surrounding scene, and bend his attention to the prayers which the ordinary was reciting.
belonging to which person
From this reading Jack, whose back was towards it, did not see it; but he heard, from the pitying exclamations of the crowd, that it was in view.
