used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then, with a murmured apology, he dodged neatly round her, swung down the steps, and frantically hailed a passing taxicab.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She stared after the dwindling cab disconsolately.
(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 Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He looked at and through her, barely conscious of her pretty, pallid face and the light of recognition in her eyes.
apologynounUS /əˈpɑːlədʒiː/
an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
From this reading Then, with a murmured apology, he dodged neatly round her, swung down the steps, and frantically hailed a passing taxicab.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading He looked at and through her, barely conscious of her pretty, pallid face and the light of recognition in her eyes.
cabnounUS /kæb/
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading She stared after the dwindling cab disconsolately.
clamberedverbUS /ˈklæmbərd/
past form of “clamber” — climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
collisionnounUS /kəˈlɪʒən/
(physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
intentionally conceived
From this reading He looked at and through her, barely conscious of her pretty, pallid face and the light of recognition in her eyes.
curbnounUS /kɜːrb/
an edge between a sidewalk and a roadway consisting of a line of curbstones (usually forming part of a gutter)
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
command with authority
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
disconsolatelyadverb
in grief-stricken loneliness; without comforting circumstances or prospects
From this reading She stared after the dwindling cab disconsolately.
dodgedverbUS /dɑːdʒd/
past form of “dodge” — make a sudden movement in a new direction so as to avoid
From this reading Then, with a murmured apology, he dodged neatly round her, swung down the steps, and frantically hailed a passing taxicab.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Then, with a murmured apology, he dodged neatly round her, swung down the steps, and frantically hailed a passing taxicab.
the operator of a motor vehicle
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
dwindlingadjectiveUS /ˈdwɪndəlɪŋ/
gradually decreasing until little remains
From this reading She stared after the dwindling cab disconsolately.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He looked at and through her, barely conscious of her pretty, pallid face and the light of recognition in her eyes.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He looked at and through her, barely conscious of her pretty, pallid face and the light of recognition in her eyes.
franticallyadverbUS /ˈfræntəkəli/
in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading Then, with a murmured apology, he dodged neatly round her, swung down the steps, and frantically hailed a passing taxicab.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
a young female
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
hailedverbUS /heɪld/
past form of “hail” — praise vociferously
From this reading Then, with a murmured apology, he dodged neatly round her, swung down the steps, and frantically hailed a passing taxicab.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He looked at and through her, barely conscious of her pretty, pallid face and the light of recognition in her eyes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He looked at and through her, barely conscious of her pretty, pallid face and the light of recognition in her eyes.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He looked at and through her, barely conscious of her pretty, pallid face and the light of recognition in her eyes.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked at and through her, barely conscious of her pretty, pallid face and the light of recognition in her eyes.
Matthias
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading Then, with a murmured apology, he dodged neatly round her, swung down the steps, and frantically hailed a passing taxicab.
neatlyadverbUS /ˈniːtli/
with neatness
From this reading Then, with a murmured apology, he dodged neatly round her, swung down the steps, and frantically hailed a passing taxicab.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He looked at and through her, barely conscious of her pretty, pallid face and the light of recognition in her eyes.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
pallidadjectiveUS /ˈpæləd/
abnormally deficient in color as suggesting physical or emotional distress
From this reading He looked at and through her, barely conscious of her pretty, pallid face and the light of recognition in her eyes.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading Then, with a murmured apology, he dodged neatly round her, swung down the steps, and frantically hailed a passing taxicab.
PennsylvanianounUS /ˌpensəlˈveɪnjə/
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading He looked at and through her, barely conscious of her pretty, pallid face and the light of recognition in her eyes.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
recognitionnounUS /ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃən/
the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged
From this reading He looked at and through her, barely conscious of her pretty, pallid face and the light of recognition in her eyes.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Then, with a murmured apology, he dodged neatly round her, swung down the steps, and frantically hailed a passing taxicab.
cut with a saw
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She stared after the dwindling cab disconsolately.
slammedverbUS /slæmd/
inflected form of “slam” — close violently
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
smartlyadverbUS /ˈsmɑːrtli/
in a clever manner
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading She stared after the dwindling cab disconsolately.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Then, with a murmured apology, he dodged neatly round her, swung down the steps, and frantically hailed a passing taxicab.
stoopverbUS /stuːp/
bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
swingverbUS /swɪŋ/
move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Then, with a murmured apology, he dodged neatly round her, swung down the steps, and frantically hailed a passing taxicab.
taxicabnounUS /ˈtæksikæb/
a car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money
From this reading Then, with a murmured apology, he dodged neatly round her, swung down the steps, and frantically hailed a passing taxicab.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, with a murmured apology, he dodged neatly round her, swung down the steps, and frantically hailed a passing taxicab.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He looked at and through her, barely conscious of her pretty, pallid face and the light of recognition in her eyes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
vehiclenounUS /ˈviːhɪkəl/
a conveyance that transports people or objects
From this reading Joan, dashed and disappointed, saw the vehicle swing in to the curb and heard Matthias, as he clambered in, direct the driver to the Pennsylvania Station with all possible haste.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As the front door slammed at his back, he pulled up smartly to escape collision with the girl on the stoop.
