used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After a while things began to settle down.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a while things began to settle down.
(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 All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The stir and confusion gradually ceased.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mike put the thing to him, as man to man.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading A benevolent-looking man, with spectacles and a straggling grey beard, crossed the gangway close to where Mike was standing.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading After a while things began to settle down.
benevolent-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A benevolent-looking man, with spectacles and a straggling grey beard, crossed the gangway close to where Mike was standing.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading The stir and confusion gradually ceased.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading A benevolent-looking man, with spectacles and a straggling grey beard, crossed the gangway close to where Mike was standing.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading The stir and confusion gradually ceased.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
placed crosswise
From this reading A benevolent-looking man, with spectacles and a straggling grey beard, crossed the gangway close to where Mike was standing.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading After a while things began to settle down.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
gangwaynoun
a temporary passageway of planks (as over mud on a building site)
From this reading A benevolent-looking man, with spectacles and a straggling grey beard, crossed the gangway close to where Mike was standing.
in a gradual manner
From this reading The stir and confusion gradually ceased.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading A benevolent-looking man, with spectacles and a straggling grey beard, crossed the gangway close to where Mike was standing.
hieroglyphicsnounUS /ˌhaɪroʊˈɡlɪfɪks/
plural of “hieroglyphic” — writing that resembles hieroglyphics (usually by being illegible)
From this reading All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mike put the thing to him, as man to man.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
the literary culture
From this reading All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A benevolent-looking man, with spectacles and a straggling grey beard, crossed the gangway close to where Mike was standing.
MikenounUS /maɪk/
device for converting sound waves into electrical energy
From this reading A benevolent-looking man, with spectacles and a straggling grey beard, crossed the gangway close to where Mike was standing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Mike put the thing to him, as man to man.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground
From this reading After a while things began to settle down.
spectaclesnounUS /ˈspektəkəlz/
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading A benevolent-looking man, with spectacles and a straggling grey beard, crossed the gangway close to where Mike was standing.
having a supporting base
From this reading A benevolent-looking man, with spectacles and a straggling grey beard, crossed the gangway close to where Mike was standing.
move an implement through
From this reading The stir and confusion gradually ceased.
stoolsnounUS /stuːlz/
plural of “stool” — a simple seat without a back or arms
From this reading All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
stragglingadjective
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading A benevolent-looking man, with spectacles and a straggling grey beard, crossed the gangway close to where Mike was standing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The stir and confusion gradually ceased.
a special situation
From this reading Mike put the thing to him, as man to man.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading After a while things began to settle down.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After a while things began to settle down.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A benevolent-looking man, with spectacles and a straggling grey beard, crossed the gangway close to where Mike was standing.
in or at the place that
From this reading A benevolent-looking man, with spectacles and a straggling grey beard, crossed the gangway close to where Mike was standing.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading After a while things began to settle down.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A benevolent-looking man, with spectacles and a straggling grey beard, crossed the gangway close to where Mike was standing.
the act of creating written works
From this reading All down the length of the bank, figures could be seen, seated on stools and writing hieroglyphics in large letters.
