used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
not being in a specified place
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
(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 There were rumours of all kinds: Felsenburgh was coming back; he was back; he had never gone.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading There were rumours of all kinds: Felsenburgh was coming back; he was back; he had never gone.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
a young person of either sex
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
complacencynounUS /kəmˈpleɪsənsi/
the feeling you have when you are satisfied with yourself
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
a state at a particular time
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
without stop or interruption
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
the first light of day
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading It was not that there was not expectation--for London was on tip-toe with excitement.
expectationnounUS /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/
belief about (or mental picture of) the future
From this reading It was not that there was not expectation--for London was on tip-toe with excitement.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
Felsenburgh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were rumours of all kinds: Felsenburgh was coming back; he was back; he had never gone.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
FranklinnounUS /ˈfræŋklɪn/
United States historian noted for studies of Black American history (born in 1915)
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
destroyed or killed
From this reading There were rumours of all kinds: Felsenburgh was coming back; he was back; he had never gone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
any place of pain and turmoil
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
ten 10s
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading There were rumours of all kinds: Felsenburgh was coming back; he was back; he had never gone.
the act of departing
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
mansionsnounUS /ˈmæntʃənz/
plural of “mansion” — (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading There were rumours of all kinds: Felsenburgh was coming back; he was back; he had never gone.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was not that there was not expectation--for London was on tip-toe with excitement.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
PercynounUS /ˈpɜːrsi/
United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
rumoursnounUS /ˈruːmərz/
plural of “rumour” — gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth
From this reading There were rumours of all kinds: Felsenburgh was coming back; he was back; he had never gone.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
slidingadjectiveUS /ˈslaɪdɪŋ/
being a smooth continuous motion
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
specimennounUS /ˈspesəmən/
an example regarded as typical of its class
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
not in physical motion
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
tip-toe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not that there was not expectation--for London was on tip-toe with excitement.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
precisely as stated
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I It seemed to Percy Franklin as he drew near Rome, sliding five hundred feet high through the summer dawn, that he was approaching the very gates of heaven, or, still better, he was as a child coming home.
well-beingnounUS /ˌwelˈbiːɪŋ/
a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were rumours of all kinds: Felsenburgh was coming back; he was back; he had never gone.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For what he had left behind him ten hours before in London was not a bad specimen, he thought, of the superior mansions of hell.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was not that there was not expectation--for London was on tip-toe with excitement.
withdrawnadjectiveUS /wɪθˈdrɔːn/
withdrawn from society; seeking solitude
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It was a world whence God seemed to have withdrawn Himself, leaving it indeed in a state of profound complacency--a state without hope or faith, but a condition in which, although life continued, there was absent the one essential to well-being.
