used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He turned away with a little shrug of relief.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
assumptionnounUS /əˈsʌmpʃən/
a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn
From this reading It was a foreign role he was playing,—this assumption of the duties of a knight in dancing attendance on strange ladies.
attendancenounUS /əˈtendəns/
the act of being present (at a meeting or event etc.)
From this reading It was a foreign role he was playing,—this assumption of the duties of a knight in dancing attendance on strange ladies.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He turned away with a little shrug of relief.
boastverbUS /boʊst/
show off
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
chafedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪft/
painful from having the skin abraded
From this reading Secretly, he chafed under it; outwardly, he was magnificently indifferent.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading It was a foreign role he was playing,—this assumption of the duties of a knight in dancing attendance on strange ladies.
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading It was a foreign role he was playing,—this assumption of the duties of a knight in dancing attendance on strange ladies.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
episodenounUS /ˈepəsoʊd/
a happening that is distinctive in a series of related events
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading It was a foreign role he was playing,—this assumption of the duties of a knight in dancing attendance on strange ladies.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He turned away with a little shrug of relief.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a foreign role he was playing,—this assumption of the duties of a knight in dancing attendance on strange ladies.
indifferentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfrənt/
marked by a lack of interest
From this reading Secretly, he chafed under it; outwardly, he was magnificently indifferent.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a foreign role he was playing,—this assumption of the duties of a knight in dancing attendance on strange ladies.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit
From this reading It was a foreign role he was playing,—this assumption of the duties of a knight in dancing attendance on strange ladies.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading It was a foreign role he was playing,—this assumption of the duties of a knight in dancing attendance on strange ladies.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
MAGGOTnounUS /ˈmæɡət/
the larva of the housefly and blowfly commonly found in decaying organic matter
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
magnificentlyadverbUS /mæɡˈnɪfəsəntli/
extremely well
From this reading Secretly, he chafed under it; outwardly, he was magnificently indifferent.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
come together
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
Munson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He turned away with a little shrug of relief.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was a foreign role he was playing,—this assumption of the duties of a knight in dancing attendance on strange ladies.
and nothing more
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
outwardlyadverbUS /ˈaʊtwərdli/
with respect to the outside
From this reading Secretly, he chafed under it; outwardly, he was magnificently indifferent.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading It was a foreign role he was playing,—this assumption of the duties of a knight in dancing attendance on strange ladies.
prioradjectiveUS /ˈpraɪər/
earlier in time
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading He turned away with a little shrug of relief.
the state of being held in high esteem and honor
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
rolenounUS /roʊl/
the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group
From this reading It was a foreign role he was playing,—this assumption of the duties of a knight in dancing attendance on strange ladies.
sauntered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
SecretlyadverbUS /ˈsiːkrɪtli/
in secrecy; not openly
From this reading Secretly, he chafed under it; outwardly, he was magnificently indifferent.
shrugnounUS /ʃrʌɡ/
a gesture involving the shoulders
From this reading He turned away with a little shrug of relief.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading It was a foreign role he was playing,—this assumption of the duties of a knight in dancing attendance on strange ladies.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
sustainverbUS /səˈsteɪn/
lengthen or extend in duration or space
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
ticketnounUS /ˈtɪkət/
a commercial document showing that the holder is entitled to something (as to ride on public transportation or to enter a public entertainment)
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
create by training and teaching
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He turned away with a little shrug of relief.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Secretly, he chafed under it; outwardly, he was magnificently indifferent.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading “MAGGOT” An hour prior to this little episode, Jim Munson had sauntered up to the ticket window only to find that the train from the East was forty minutes late.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He turned away with a little shrug of relief.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
but in spite of that
From this reading He had a reputation to sustain, a reputation of having yet to meet that which would lower his proud boast that he was afraid of nothing under the sun, neither man nor devil.
