used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
in addition
From this reading “Probably, Hawkins,” I replied, “but it would also be decidedly stiff and inconvenient.
aluminiumnounUS /əˈluːmɪnəm/
a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
aluminumnounUS /əˈluːmənəm/
a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite
From this reading “Now, if the body were made of aluminum it would be far lighter and just as strong, wouldn't it?”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
arousedadjectiveUS /ərˈaʊzd/
aroused to action
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Now, if the body were made of aluminum it would be far lighter and just as strong, wouldn't it?”
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Now, if the body were made of aluminum it would be far lighter and just as strong, wouldn't it?”
bendverbUS /bend/
form a curve
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading “Now, if the body were made of aluminum it would be far lighter and just as strong, wouldn't it?”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Probably, Hawkins,” I replied, “but it would also be decidedly stiff and inconvenient.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
columnnounUS /ˈkɑːləm/
a line of units following one after another
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
conformingadjectiveUS /kənˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
adhering to established customs or doctrines (especially in religion)
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
crackleverbUS /ˈkrækəl/
make a crackling sound
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “No, no, no, no,” cried Hawkins, impatiently.
decidedlyadverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdədli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading “Probably, Hawkins,” I replied, “but it would also be decidedly stiff and inconvenient.
down-stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading “Now, if the body were made of aluminum it would be far lighter and just as strong, wouldn't it?”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
the act of departing
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
HawkinsnounUS /ˈhɔːkɪnz/
English privateer involved in the slave trade; later helped build the fleet that in 1588 defeated the Spanish Armada (1532-1595)
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Probably, Hawkins,” I replied, “but it would also be decidedly stiff and inconvenient.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Now, if the body were made of aluminum it would be far lighter and just as strong, wouldn't it?”
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
impatientlyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəntli/
with impatience; in an impatient manner
From this reading “No, no, no, no,” cried Hawkins, impatiently.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
inconvenientadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkənˈviːnjənt/
not suited to your comfort, purpose or needs
From this reading “Probably, Hawkins,” I replied, “but it would also be decidedly stiff and inconvenient.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Now, if the body were made of aluminum it would be far lighter and just as strong, wouldn't it?”
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
and nothing more
From this reading “Now, if the body were made of aluminum it would be far lighter and just as strong, wouldn't it?”
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
lighternounUS /ˈlaɪtər/
a substance used to ignite or kindle a fire
From this reading “Now, if the body were made of aluminum it would be far lighter and just as strong, wouldn't it?”
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading “Now, if the body were made of aluminum it would be far lighter and just as strong, wouldn't it?”
momentaryadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊmənteri/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
not any; not one
From this reading “No, no, no, no,” cried Hawkins, impatiently.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Now, if the body were made of aluminum it would be far lighter and just as strong, wouldn't it?”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Now, if the body were made of aluminum it would be far lighter and just as strong, wouldn't it?”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
placidlyadverbUS /ˈplæsɪdli/
in a quiet and tranquil manner
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading “Probably, Hawkins,” I replied, “but it would also be decidedly stiff and inconvenient.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “Probably, Hawkins,” I replied, “but it would also be decidedly stiff and inconvenient.
reverienounUS /ˈrevəri/
absentminded dreaming while awake
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
spinalnounUS /ˈspaɪnəl/
anesthesia of the lower half of the body; caused by injury to the spinal cord or by injecting an anesthetic beneath the arachnoid membrane that surrounds the spinal cord
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
not moving or operating freely
From this reading “Probably, Hawkins,” I replied, “but it would also be decidedly stiff and inconvenient.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading “Now, if the body were made of aluminum it would be far lighter and just as strong, wouldn't it?”
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Just imagine how one's aluminium knees would crackle and bend going up and down-stairs, and what an awful job one would have conforming one's aluminum spinal column to the back of a chair.”
at the time that
From this reading We were sitting on my porch, smoking placidly in the sunset glow, when Hawkins aroused himself from a momentary reverie and remarked:
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Now, if the body were made of aluminum it would be far lighter and just as strong, wouldn't it?”
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, if the body were made of aluminum it would be far lighter and just as strong, wouldn't it?”
