used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
(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 Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
bachelorsnounUS /ˈbætʃlərz/
plural of “bachelor” — a man who has never been married
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
cleaningnounUS /ˈkliːnɪŋ/
the act of making something clean
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
cognacnounUS /ˈkoʊnjæk/
high quality grape brandy distilled in the Cognac district of France
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
conciergenounUS /ˌkɑːnsiˈerʒ/
a French caretaker of apartments or a hotel; lives on the premises and oversees people entering and leaving and handles mail and acts as janitor or porter
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
creaseverbUS /kriːs/
make wrinkles or creases on a smooth surface; make a pressed, folded or wrinkled line in; “crisp” is archaic
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
diminishingadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnɪʃɪŋ/
becoming smaller or less or appearing to do so
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
take in liquids
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
droopingadjectiveUS /ˈdruːpɪŋ/
weak from exhaustion
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
Durtal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
Durtal's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
at any time
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
start firing a weapon
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
foldnounUS /foʊld/
an angular or rounded shape made by folding
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
forbiddingadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪdɪŋ/
harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
engage in
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
moustachenounUS /ˈmʌstæʃ/
an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
oilnounUS /ɔɪl/
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
on one occasion
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
and nothing more
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
paler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
resignedverbUS /rɪˈzaɪnd/
past form of “resign” — leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
scrupulouslyadverbUS /ˈskruːpjələsli/
with extreme conscientiousness
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
thirstyadjectiveUS /ˈθɜːrsti/
needing moisture
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
three-six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
very small
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
washverbUS /wɑːʃ/
clean with some chemical process
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
weakeradjectiveUS /ˈwiːkər/
comparative of “weak” — wanting in physical strength
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
at the time that
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
which person or people
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
