used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading After a careful look about, Von Pfaffen entered.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a careful look about, Von Pfaffen entered.
alertlyadverbUS /əˈlɜːrtli/
in mentally perceptive and responsive way
From this reading Once or twice he stopped, his head raised, alertly listening, but the house was quiet and the General's walk had carried him far into the garden.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading He went directly to the table and began eagerly searching among the papers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He went directly to the table and began eagerly searching among the papers.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Once or twice he stopped, his head raised, alertly listening, but the house was quiet and the General's walk had carried him far into the garden.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading After a careful look about, Von Pfaffen entered.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Once or twice he stopped, his head raised, alertly listening, but the house was quiet and the General's walk had carried him far into the garden.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
without deviation
From this reading He went directly to the table and began eagerly searching among the papers.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading He went directly to the table and began eagerly searching among the papers.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading After a careful look about, Von Pfaffen entered.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Once or twice he stopped, his head raised, alertly listening, but the house was quiet and the General's walk had carried him far into the garden.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading Once or twice he stopped, his head raised, alertly listening, but the house was quiet and the General's walk had carried him far into the garden.
General'snounUS /ˈdʒenərəlz/
possessive form of “general” — a general officer of the highest rank
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
destroyed or killed
From this reading His humility was gone, and the slight stoop of his shoulders had lifted into a straight military line.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He went directly to the table and began eagerly searching among the papers.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Once or twice he stopped, his head raised, alertly listening, but the house was quiet and the General's walk had carried him far into the garden.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His humility was gone, and the slight stoop of his shoulders had lifted into a straight military line.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Once or twice he stopped, his head raised, alertly listening, but the house was quiet and the General's walk had carried him far into the garden.
humilitynounUS /hjuːˈmɪlɪti/
a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride
From this reading His humility was gone, and the slight stoop of his shoulders had lifted into a straight military line.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading His humility was gone, and the slight stoop of his shoulders had lifted into a straight military line.
held up in the air
From this reading His humility was gone, and the slight stoop of his shoulders had lifted into a straight military line.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading His humility was gone, and the slight stoop of his shoulders had lifted into a straight military line.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading Once or twice he stopped, his head raised, alertly listening, but the house was quiet and the General's walk had carried him far into the garden.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading After a careful look about, Von Pfaffen entered.
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading His humility was gone, and the slight stoop of his shoulders had lifted into a straight military line.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
on one occasion
From this reading Once or twice he stopped, his head raised, alertly listening, but the house was quiet and the General's walk had carried him far into the garden.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Once or twice he stopped, his head raised, alertly listening, but the house was quiet and the General's walk had carried him far into the garden.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading He went directly to the table and began eagerly searching among the papers.
Pfaffen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a careful look about, Von Pfaffen entered.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Once or twice he stopped, his head raised, alertly listening, but the house was quiet and the General's walk had carried him far into the garden.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Once or twice he stopped, his head raised, alertly listening, but the house was quiet and the General's walk had carried him far into the garden.
only a very short time before
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading He went directly to the table and began eagerly searching among the papers.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading His humility was gone, and the slight stoop of his shoulders had lifted into a straight military line.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading His humility was gone, and the slight stoop of his shoulders had lifted into a straight military line.
with low volume
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
stoopverbUS /stuːp/
bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading His humility was gone, and the slight stoop of his shoulders had lifted into a straight military line.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Once or twice he stopped, his head raised, alertly listening, but the house was quiet and the General's walk had carried him far into the garden.
successive (without a break)
From this reading His humility was gone, and the slight stoop of his shoulders had lifted into a straight military line.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He went directly to the table and began eagerly searching among the papers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
push forcefully
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He went directly to the table and began eagerly searching among the papers.
two times
From this reading Once or twice he stopped, his head raised, alertly listening, but the house was quiet and the General's walk had carried him far into the garden.
Von
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a careful look about, Von Pfaffen entered.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Once or twice he stopped, his head raised, alertly listening, but the house was quiet and the General's walk had carried him far into the garden.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He went directly to the table and began eagerly searching among the papers.
at the time that
From this reading The light of the General's cigar had scarcely disappeared when the door opened softly, and a head was cautiously thrust in.
