used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
affirmativeadjectiveUS /əˈfɜːrmətɪv/
affirming or giving assent
From this reading The servant answered in the affirmative, looking at him interestedly, as he was different from the average man one sees in Tokio.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading The servant answered in the affirmative, looking at him interestedly, as he was different from the average man one sees in Tokio.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The servant answered in the affirmative, looking at him interestedly, as he was different from the average man one sees in Tokio.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
averageadjectiveUS /ˈævərɪdʒ/
approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
From this reading The servant answered in the affirmative, looking at him interestedly, as he was different from the average man one sees in Tokio.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
bowingnounUS /ˈboʊɪŋ/
bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
city-bredadjective
being or having the customs or manners or dress of a city person
From this reading He was dressed in an old-time costume that immediately told the city-bred servant that the man was from some distant province.
clogsnounUS /klɑːɡz/
plural of “clog” — footwear usually with wooden soles
From this reading The visitor went to the veranda, dropped his clogs, and entered the doorway.
coolienoun
(ethnic slur) an offensive name for an unskilled Asian laborer
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
costumenounUS /kɑːˈstuːm/
the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading He was dressed in an old-time costume that immediately told the city-bred servant that the man was from some distant province.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading The servant answered in the affirmative, looking at him interestedly, as he was different from the average man one sees in Tokio.
disappearingnounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrɪŋ/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading He was dressed in an old-time costume that immediately told the city-bred servant that the man was from some distant province.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading The visitor went to the veranda, dropped his clogs, and entered the doorway.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading He was dressed in an old-time costume that immediately told the city-bred servant that the man was from some distant province.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading The visitor went to the veranda, dropped his clogs, and entered the doorway.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading The visitor went to the veranda, dropped his clogs, and entered the doorway.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The servant answered in the affirmative, looking at him interestedly, as he was different from the average man one sees in Tokio.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The servant answered in the affirmative, looking at him interestedly, as he was different from the average man one sees in Tokio.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The servant answered in the affirmative, looking at him interestedly, as he was different from the average man one sees in Tokio.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The visitor went to the veranda, dropped his clogs, and entered the doorway.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading He was dressed in an old-time costume that immediately told the city-bred servant that the man was from some distant province.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
interestedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The servant answered in the affirmative, looking at him interestedly, as he was different from the average man one sees in Tokio.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
JapanesenounUS /ˌdʒæpəˈniːz/
a native or inhabitant of Japan
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
jinrickshaw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The servant answered in the affirmative, looking at him interestedly, as he was different from the average man one sees in Tokio.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The servant answered in the affirmative, looking at him interestedly, as he was different from the average man one sees in Tokio.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
OkadverbUS /ˈoʊˈkeɪ/
an expression of agreement normally occurring at the beginning of a sentence
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
old-timeadjective
attractively old-fashioned (but not necessarily authentic)
From this reading He was dressed in an old-time costume that immediately told the city-bred servant that the man was from some distant province.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The servant answered in the affirmative, looking at him interestedly, as he was different from the average man one sees in Tokio.
provincenounUS /ˈprɑːvəns/
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading He was dressed in an old-time costume that immediately told the city-bred servant that the man was from some distant province.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
plural of “see” — the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
From this reading The servant answered in the affirmative, looking at him interestedly, as he was different from the average man one sees in Tokio.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He was dressed in an old-time costume that immediately told the city-bred servant that the man was from some distant province.
not in physical motion
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
in a swift manner
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
express in words
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
TokionounUS /toʊˈkiːoʊ/
the capital and largest city of Japan; the economic and cultural center of Japan
From this reading The servant answered in the affirmative, looking at him interestedly, as he was different from the average man one sees in Tokio.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He was dressed in an old-time costume that immediately told the city-bred servant that the man was from some distant province.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
verandanounUS /vərˈændə/
a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)
From this reading The visitor went to the veranda, dropped his clogs, and entered the doorway.
someone who visits
From this reading The visitor went to the veranda, dropped his clogs, and entered the doorway.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The visitor went to the veranda, dropped his clogs, and entered the doorway.
at the time that
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Tell the Ok San that I will be back in about an hour," and was taken swiftly up the street.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The coolie at the gate was still watching the disappearing jinrickshaw when a Japanese approached, and bowing to the servant asked: "Is your mistress within?"
