used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Had they peeped through the window, they would have seen Misel with an impatient gesture sling his crutch in one direction, his cane in another.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Had they peeped through the window, they would have seen Misel with an impatient gesture sling his crutch in one direction, his cane in another.
any thing at all
From this reading "Lena!" he called, in anything but a gentle tone.
move towards
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Lena!" he called, in anything but a gentle tone.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Lena!" he called, in anything but a gentle tone.
canenounUS /keɪn/
a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
From this reading Had they peeped through the window, they would have seen Misel with an impatient gesture sling his crutch in one direction, his cane in another.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading They were desirous of catching more than the Misels in their net and did not want to act too quickly.
crutchnounUS /krʌtʃ/
a wooden or metal staff that fits under the armpit and reaches to the ground; used by disabled person while walking
From this reading Had they peeped through the window, they would have seen Misel with an impatient gesture sling his crutch in one direction, his cane in another.
desirousadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪrəs/
having or expressing desire for something
From this reading They were desirous of catching more than the Misels in their net and did not want to act too quickly.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
detectivesnounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
plural of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They were desirous of catching more than the Misels in their net and did not want to act too quickly.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Had they peeped through the window, they would have seen Misel with an impatient gesture sling his crutch in one direction, his cane in another.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
emergenciesnounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsiz/
plural of “emergency” — a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
enclose with a fence
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading "Lena!" he called, in anything but a gentle tone.
GERMSnounUS /dʒɜːrmz/
plural of “germ” — anything that provides inspiration for later work
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading Had they peeped through the window, they would have seen Misel with an impatient gesture sling his crutch in one direction, his cane in another.
the act of departing
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had they peeped through the window, they would have seen Misel with an impatient gesture sling his crutch in one direction, his cane in another.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Lena!" he called, in anything but a gentle tone.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Had they peeped through the window, they would have seen Misel with an impatient gesture sling his crutch in one direction, his cane in another.
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading Had they peeped through the window, they would have seen Misel with an impatient gesture sling his crutch in one direction, his cane in another.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
intelligentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒənt/
having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
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 Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
LenanounUS /ˈliːnə/
a Russian river in Siberia; flows northward into the Laptev Sea
From this reading "Lena!" he called, in anything but a gentle tone.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
the force of workers available
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
Misel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
Misels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were desirous of catching more than the Misels in their net and did not want to act too quickly.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They were desirous of catching more than the Misels in their net and did not want to act too quickly.
netnounUS /net/
a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange
From this reading They were desirous of catching more than the Misels in their net and did not want to act too quickly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were desirous of catching more than the Misels in their net and did not want to act too quickly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Had they peeped through the window, they would have seen Misel with an impatient gesture sling his crutch in one direction, his cane in another.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
peepedverbUS /piːpt/
past form of “peep” — look furtively
From this reading Had they peeped through the window, they would have seen Misel with an impatient gesture sling his crutch in one direction, his cane in another.
with speed
From this reading They were desirous of catching more than the Misels in their net and did not want to act too quickly.
quietly-dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
cut with a saw
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Had they peeped through the window, they would have seen Misel with an impatient gesture sling his crutch in one direction, his cane in another.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
slingverbUS /slɪŋ/
hurl as if with a sling
From this reading Had they peeped through the window, they would have seen Misel with an impatient gesture sling his crutch in one direction, his cane in another.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They were desirous of catching more than the Misels in their net and did not want to act too quickly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They were desirous of catching more than the Misels in their net and did not want to act too quickly.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were desirous of catching more than the Misels in their net and did not want to act too quickly.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "Lena!" he called, in anything but a gentle tone.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading They were desirous of catching more than the Misels in their net and did not want to act too quickly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading They were desirous of catching more than the Misels in their net and did not want to act too quickly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
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 GERMS As the two quietly-dressed, intelligent looking men were in the act of going through a desk, they saw from the window the slow and painful approach of M. Misel.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Had they peeped through the window, they would have seen Misel with an impatient gesture sling his crutch in one direction, his cane in another.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Without a word they let themselves out of a back window, left open for emergencies, and before the master had opened the front door the detectives were over the back fence and out of sight.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Had they peeped through the window, they would have seen Misel with an impatient gesture sling his crutch in one direction, his cane in another.
