used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
(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 Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
aptlyadverbUS /ˈæptli/
with competence; in a competent capable manner
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are you married?" queried Mr. Jacobs.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
CalcuttanounUS /ˌkælˈkʌtə/
the largest city in India and one of the largest cities in the world; located in eastern India; suffers from poverty and overcrowding
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
clutchnounUS /klʌtʃ/
the act of grasping
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
comparedverbUS /kəmˈperd/
past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
confidencesnounUS /ˈkɑːnfədənsɪz/
plural of “confidence” — freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
put on clothes
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
eventfuladjectiveUS /ɪˈventfəl/
full of events or incidents
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The next morning I had tiffin.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The next morning I had tiffin.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I speculated in regard to Mr. Jacobs.
itemnounUS /ˈaɪtəm/
a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
JackalnounUS /ˈdʒækəl/
Old World nocturnal canine mammal closely related to the dog; smaller than a wolf; sometimes hunts in a pack but usually singly or as a member of a pair
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
JacobsnounUS /ˈdʒeɪkəbz/
English writer of macabre short stories (1863-1943)
From this reading I speculated in regard to Mr. Jacobs.
knee-breeches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
engage in
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
joined in matrimony
From this reading "Are you married?" queried Mr. Jacobs.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
the force of workers available
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
montenounUS /ˈmɑːnti/
a gambling card game of Spanish origin; 3 or 4 cards are dealt face up and players bet that one of them will be matched before the others as the cards are dealt from the pack one at a time
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The next morning I had tiffin.
a form of address for a man
From this reading I speculated in regard to Mr. Jacobs.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next morning I had tiffin.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
queriedverbUS /ˈkwɪrid/
inflected form of “query” — pose a question
From this reading "Are you married?" queried Mr. Jacobs.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading I speculated in regard to Mr. Jacobs.
relateverbUS /rɪˈleɪt/
make a logical or causal connection
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
shyverbUS /ʃaɪ/
start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
speculatedverbUS /ˈspekjəleɪtɪd/
past form of “speculate” — to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
From this reading I speculated in regard to Mr. Jacobs.
not in physical motion
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
sunflowernounUS /ˈsʌnflaʊər/
any plant of the genus Helianthus having large flower heads with dark disk florets and showy yellow rays
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
Swinburnenoun
English poet (1837-1909)
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next morning I had tiffin.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
three-card
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
thrillnounUS /θrɪl/
the swift release of a store of affective force
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
tiffinnounUS /ˈtɪfɪn/
a midday meal
From this reading The next morning I had tiffin.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I speculated in regard to Mr. Jacobs.
a source of difficulty
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
at the time that
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
which person or people
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading Still, there was something about the man that seemed to promise an item for the _Calcutta Jackal_, and therefore, when Jacobs appeared, looking like the sunflower, for all his wild dress and his knee-breeches, I felt the "little thrill of pleasure," so aptly compared by Swinburne to the clutch of a hand in the hair.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading A long and eventful experience with three-card monte men had made me extremely shy of persons who begin an acquaintance by making confidences; and I wondered why he had taken the trouble to make up the story of his life, to relate to an entire stranger.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Are you married?" queried Mr. Jacobs.
