used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
betokened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
brewingnounUS /ˈbruːɪŋ/
the production of malt beverages (as beer or ale) from malt and hops by grinding and boiling them and fermenting the result with yeast
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
make calm or still
From this reading Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
causingnounUS /ˈkɑːzɪŋ/
the act of causing something to happen
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes.
rid of obstructions
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
comicaladjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmɪkəl/
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
Comp'ny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
disturbingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/
causing distress or worry or anxiety
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
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 Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes.
drawernounUS /drɔːr/
a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes.
frownverbUS /fraʊn/
look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
destroyed or killed
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
grimaceverbUS /ˈɡrɪməs/
contort the face to indicate a certain mental or emotional state
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
and nothing more
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
mendingnounUS /ˈmendɪŋ/
garments that must be repaired
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
messnounUS /mes/
a state of confusion and disorderliness
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
netsnounUS /nets/
plural of “net” — a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
not any; not one
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
puckering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
Seaford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
a person, without saying who
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened something disturbing in the atmosphere.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
strewnverbUS /struːn/
inflected form of “strew” — spread by scattering ("straw" is archaic)
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
under normal conditions
From this reading Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
which person or people
From this reading WHO WAS IT Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.
winkverbUS /wɪŋk/
signal by winking
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading "I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess that I've worked an hour to clear up.
