used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
(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 Mrs. Balfame walked past them holding her clenched hands under her veil, but to all appearance composed and indifferent.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Mrs. Balfame walked past them holding her clenched hands under her veil, but to all appearance composed and indifferent.
appetisingadjective
appealing to or stimulating the appetite especially in appearance or aroma
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
automobilenounUS /ˈɔːtəmoʊbiːl/
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
Balfame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
camerasnounUS /ˈkæmərəz/
plural of “camera” — equipment for taking photographs (usually consisting of a lightproof box with a lens at one end and light-sensitive film at the other)
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
carsnounUS /kɑːrz/
plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading Mrs. Balfame walked past them holding her clenched hands under her veil, but to all appearance composed and indifferent.
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading Mrs. Balfame walked past them holding her clenched hands under her veil, but to all appearance composed and indifferent.
containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
CourthousenounUS /ˈkɔːrthaʊs/
a government building that houses the offices of a county government
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
Dobton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading Other men and women of the press stood before the locked gate of the jail yard, several holding cameras.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Mrs. Balfame walked past them holding her clenched hands under her veil, but to all appearance composed and indifferent.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Balfame walked past them holding her clenched hands under her veil, but to all appearance composed and indifferent.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
the act of retaining something
From this reading Other men and women of the press stood before the locked gate of the jail yard, several holding cameras.
illustratedverbUS /ˈɪləstreɪtəd/
past form of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
indifferentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfrənt/
marked by a lack of interest
From this reading Mrs. Balfame walked past them holding her clenched hands under her veil, but to all appearance composed and indifferent.
jailnounUS /dʒeɪl/
a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
From this reading Other men and women of the press stood before the locked gate of the jail yard, several holding cameras.
and nothing more
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
leapnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading Other men and women of the press stood before the locked gate of the jail yard, several holding cameras.
plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
the force of workers available
From this reading Other men and women of the press stood before the locked gate of the jail yard, several holding cameras.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
mummynounUS /ˈmʌmi/
informal terms for a mother
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
news-story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
occupantsnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənts/
plural of “occupant” — someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
on one occasion
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Other men and women of the press stood before the locked gate of the jail yard, several holding cameras.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
exert pressure or force to or upon
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
a person who is being chased
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Other men and women of the press stood before the locked gate of the jail yard, several holding cameras.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Other men and women of the press stood before the locked gate of the jail yard, several holding cameras.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Mrs. Balfame walked past them holding her clenched hands under her veil, but to all appearance composed and indifferent.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Mrs. Balfame walked past them holding her clenched hands under her veil, but to all appearance composed and indifferent.
a garment that covers the head and face
From this reading Mrs. Balfame walked past them holding her clenched hands under her veil, but to all appearance composed and indifferent.
precisely as stated
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Mrs. Balfame walked past them holding her clenched hands under her veil, but to all appearance composed and indifferent.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The automobile was pursued by three cars containing members of the press, which shot past just before they reached Dobton Courthouse, that the occupants might leap out and fix their cameras.
whirledverbUS /wɜːrld/
past form of “whirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
whirlwindnounUS /ˈwɜːrlwɪnd/
a more or less vertical column of air whirling around itself as it moves over the surface of the Earth
From this reading Mrs. Balfame was whirled to Dobton in ten minutes--herself, she fancied, the very centre of a whirlwind.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But once more the reading public was forced to be content with an appetising news-story illustrated by a tall black mummy.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Other men and women of the press stood before the locked gate of the jail yard, several holding cameras.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Other men and women of the press stood before the locked gate of the jail yard, several holding cameras.
