used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNSUCCESSFUL PURSUIT.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
cable-car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Then he started forward to stop the car.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
doubtedverbUS /ˈdaʊtɪd/
past form of “doubt” — consider unlikely or have doubts about
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
eyesightnounUS /ˈaɪsaɪt/
normal use of the faculty of vision
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Then he started forward to stop the car.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment he stood still.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
OlivernounUS /ˈɑːləvər/
United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading AN UNSUCCESSFUL PURSUIT.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
having a supporting base
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Then he started forward to stop the car.
not in physical motion
From this reading For a moment he stood still.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading For a moment he stood still.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading Then he started forward to stop the car.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he started forward to stop the car.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then he started forward to stop the car.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading For an instant he doubted the evidence of his own eyesight, but a second look told him that in truth it was the colonel.
UNSUCCESSFULadjectiveUS /ˌʌnsəkˈsesfəl/
not successful; having failed or having an unfavorable outcome
From this reading AN UNSUCCESSFUL PURSUIT.
precisely as stated
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
at the time that
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
Whyland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oliver Bright, as may be imagined, was astonished when Mr. Whyland discovered the very man they were looking for, standing calmly on the rear end of a passing cable-car.
