used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading On the wall above them was a clock.
anew
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Said the teacher: “Gentleness overcomes where resistance would be in vain.”
blocknounUS /blɑːk/
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
blowsnounUS /bloʊz/
plural of “blow” — a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading On the wall above them was a clock.
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
dealtverbUS /delt/
inflected form of “deal” — act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
opinion or judgment
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
feeblyadverbUS /ˈfiːbli/
in a faint and feeble manner
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
GentlenessnounUS /ˈdʒentəlnəs/
the property possessed by a slope that is very gradual
From this reading Said the teacher: “Gentleness overcomes where resistance would be in vain.”
granitenounUS /ˈɡrænət/
plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Said the teacher: “Gentleness overcomes where resistance would be in vain.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
liftingverbUS /ˈlɪftɪŋ/
-ing form of “lift” — raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
-ing form of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
the force of workers available
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
being perceived or observed
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the wall above them was a clock.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
overcomesverbUS /ˈoʊvərkʌmz/
third-person singular of “overcome” — win a victory over
From this reading Said the teacher: “Gentleness overcomes where resistance would be in vain.”
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
resistancenounUS /rɪˈzɪstəns/
the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with
From this reading Said the teacher: “Gentleness overcomes where resistance would be in vain.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Said the teacher: “Gentleness overcomes where resistance would be in vain.”
cut with a saw
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
seemingadjectiveUS /ˈsiːmɪŋ/
appearing as such but not necessarily so
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
stone-cutters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
a person whose occupation is teaching
From this reading Said the teacher: “Gentleness overcomes where resistance would be in vain.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Said the teacher: “Gentleness overcomes where resistance would be in vain.”
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading On the wall above them was a clock.
tireverbUS /ˈtaɪər/
lose interest or become bored with something or somebody
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading Said the teacher: “Gentleness overcomes where resistance would be in vain.”
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading On the wall above them was a clock.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the wall above them was a clock.
wearinessnounUS /ˈwɪrinəs/
temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
in or at the place that
From this reading Said the teacher: “Gentleness overcomes where resistance would be in vain.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now, one of the men stood with his back to the clock, so that he could not see it, and his arm dealt strong and rapid blows on the stone, seeming never to tire.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading But the other man stood facing the clock, and was constantly lifting up his eyes to it; and I noticed that his arm was raised slowly and feebly, as if losing its strength, and his face wore an expression of weariness.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He held up the mirror again, and I saw two stone-cutters at work dressing a great block of granite.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Said the teacher: “Gentleness overcomes where resistance would be in vain.”
