used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A falling leaf startles the steed, and a shadow the guilty man.
abstractedadjectiveUS /ˈæbstræktɪd/
lost in thought; showing preoccupation
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SUDDEN CELEBRITY AND PATIENT HOPE.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are sad, Percival," he said inquiringly.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Seeing, at length, that his gayety did not communicate itself to Percival, he paused, and looked at him suspiciously.
CELEBRITYnounUS /səˈlebrɪti/
a widely known person
From this reading SUDDEN CELEBRITY AND PATIENT HOPE.
communicateverbUS /kəˈmjuːnəkeɪt/
transmit information
From this reading Seeing, at length, that his gayety did not communicate itself to Percival, he paused, and looked at him suspiciously.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Seeing, at length, that his gayety did not communicate itself to Percival, he paused, and looked at him suspiciously.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading A falling leaf startles the steed, and a shadow the guilty man.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
gayety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing, at length, that his gayety did not communicate itself to Percival, he paused, and looked at him suspiciously.
depressingly dark
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act
From this reading A falling leaf startles the steed, and a shadow the guilty man.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Seeing, at length, that his gayety did not communicate itself to Percival, he paused, and looked at him suspiciously.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading SUDDEN CELEBRITY AND PATIENT HOPE.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
inquiringlyadverb
in an inquiring manner
From this reading "You are sad, Percival," he said inquiringly.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Seeing, at length, that his gayety did not communicate itself to Percival, he paused, and looked at him suspiciously.
leafnounUS /liːf/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading A falling leaf startles the steed, and a shadow the guilty man.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading Seeing, at length, that his gayety did not communicate itself to Percival, he paused, and looked at him suspiciously.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Seeing, at length, that his gayety did not communicate itself to Percival, he paused, and looked at him suspiciously.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A falling leaf startles the steed, and a shadow the guilty man.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Seeing, at length, that his gayety did not communicate itself to Percival, he paused, and looked at him suspiciously.
obtusenessnoun
the quality of being slow to understand
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
organizationnounUS /ˌɔːrɡənəˈzeɪʃən/
a group of people who work together
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
owedverbUS /oʊd/
past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
a person who requires medical care
From this reading SUDDEN CELEBRITY AND PATIENT HOPE.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Seeing, at length, that his gayety did not communicate itself to Percival, he paused, and looked at him suspiciously.
Percival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
participate in games or sport
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading "You are sad, Percival," he said inquiringly.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You are sad, Percival," he said inquiringly.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Seeing, at length, that his gayety did not communicate itself to Percival, he paused, and looked at him suspiciously.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading A falling leaf startles the steed, and a shadow the guilty man.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
startlesnounUS /ˈstɑːrtəlz/
plural of “startle” — a sudden involuntary movement
From this reading A falling leaf startles the steed, and a shadow the guilty man.
steednounUS /stiːd/
(literary) a spirited horse for state of war
From this reading A falling leaf startles the steed, and a shadow the guilty man.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading SUDDEN CELEBRITY AND PATIENT HOPE.
suspiciouslyadverbUS /səˈspɪʃəsli/
with suspicion
From this reading Seeing, at length, that his gayety did not communicate itself to Percival, he paused, and looked at him suspiciously.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
unrivalledadjective
eminent beyond or above comparison
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
Varney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Percival was unusually gloomy and abstracted in his way to town that day, though Varney was his companion, and in the full play of those animal spirits which he owed to his unrivalled physical organization and the obtuseness of his conscience.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are sad, Percival," he said inquiringly.