used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
aimverbUS /eɪm/
point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
alacritynounUS /əˈlækrəti/
liveliness and eagerness
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
(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 next morning Holdsworth kept watch for Dolly and his child, but did not see them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FATHER AND CHILD.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
of short duration or distance
From this reading The glimpse he obtained, however, was very brief.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading All next morning Holdsworth kept watch for Dolly and his child, but did not see them.
a young person of either sex
From this reading FATHER AND CHILD.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
Conway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading All next morning Holdsworth kept watch for Dolly and his child, but did not see them.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
(often used in combination) having a specified direction
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
disorderedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsɔːrdərd/
thrown into a state of disarray or confusion
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
DollynounUS /ˈdɑːli/
conveyance consisting of a wheeled support on which a camera can be mounted
From this reading All next morning Holdsworth kept watch for Dolly and his child, but did not see them.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading FATHER AND CHILD.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading All next morning Holdsworth kept watch for Dolly and his child, but did not see them.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
a man of refinement
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
a quick look
From this reading The glimpse he obtained, however, was very brief.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The glimpse he obtained, however, was very brief.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading All next morning Holdsworth kept watch for Dolly and his child, but did not see them.
Holdsworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All next morning Holdsworth kept watch for Dolly and his child, but did not see them.
Holdsworth's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The glimpse he obtained, however, was very brief.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading All next morning Holdsworth kept watch for Dolly and his child, but did not see them.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
staying power
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading All next morning Holdsworth kept watch for Dolly and his child, but did not see them.
a form of address for a man
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading All next morning Holdsworth kept watch for Dolly and his child, but did not see them.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading All next morning Holdsworth kept watch for Dolly and his child, but did not see them.
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading The glimpse he obtained, however, was very brief.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/
unpleasantly
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
ParrotnounUS /ˈperət/
usually brightly colored zygodactyl tropical birds with short hooked beaks and the ability to mimic sounds
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
on the contrary
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
sandy-whiskered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
cut with a saw
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading All next morning Holdsworth kept watch for Dolly and his child, but did not see them.
suggestiveadjectiveUS /səˈdʒestɪv/
tending to suggest or imply
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading All next morning Holdsworth kept watch for Dolly and his child, but did not see them.
tiltedadjectiveUS /ˈtɪltɪd/
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
vanishverbUS /ˈvænɪʃ/
get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
precisely as stated
From this reading The glimpse he obtained, however, was very brief.
a vivid mental image
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The glimpse he obtained, however, was very brief.
look attentively
From this reading All next morning Holdsworth kept watch for Dolly and his child, but did not see them.
at the time that
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading All that he saw was a sandy-whiskered gentleman, with a tilted hat, aim with rather uncertain legs for the gate with the brass plate upon it, and vanish with an alacrity that was painfully suggestive of a disordered vision.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading But Mr. Conway had passed when Mrs. Parrot happened to be in the room laying the cloth for dinner, and the woman had directed Holdsworth’s attention to him.
