used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a calm day; no wind stirring.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
the state of being absent
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
(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 He lifted the things on the table; he lifted the matting on the floor; he shook his loose coat; all in vain.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading He could not believe his own eyes.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
make calm or still
From this reading It was a calm day; no wind stirring.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading He lifted the things on the table; he lifted the matting on the floor; he shook his loose coat; all in vain.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not believe his own eyes.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was a calm day; no wind stirring.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He could not believe his own eyes.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading He lifted the things on the table; he lifted the matting on the floor; he shook his loose coat; all in vain.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could not believe his own eyes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He could not believe his own eyes.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He lifted the things on the table; he lifted the matting on the floor; he shook his loose coat; all in vain.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a calm day; no wind stirring.
held up in the air
From this reading He lifted the things on the table; he lifted the matting on the floor; he shook his loose coat; all in vain.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading He lifted the things on the table; he lifted the matting on the floor; he shook his loose coat; all in vain.
mattingnounUS /ˈmætɪŋ/
a covering of coarse fabric (usually of straw or hemp)
From this reading He lifted the things on the table; he lifted the matting on the floor; he shook his loose coat; all in vain.
not any; not one
From this reading It was a calm day; no wind stirring.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not believe his own eyes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He lifted the things on the table; he lifted the matting on the floor; he shook his loose coat; all in vain.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He could not believe his own eyes.
a course of conduct
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
a human being
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading He lifted the things on the table; he lifted the matting on the floor; he shook his loose coat; all in vain.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
having a supporting base
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading It was a calm day; no wind stirring.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He lifted the things on the table; he lifted the matting on the floor; he shook his loose coat; all in vain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He lifted the things on the table; he lifted the matting on the floor; he shook his loose coat; all in vain.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He lifted the things on the table; he lifted the matting on the floor; he shook his loose coat; all in vain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading He lifted the things on the table; he lifted the matting on the floor; he shook his loose coat; all in vain.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Standing at the door, he shouted aloud; he walked along the path to the front of the house, and shouted there; but was not answered.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a calm day; no wind stirring.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
which person or people
From this reading So far as could be seen, no person whatever was about who could have come round to the room during his short absence.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It was a calm day; no wind stirring.
