used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Almost immediately there were steps in the hall, and a man stood in the doorway.
(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 The short fat man looked angry as well as surprised, and he showed no pleasure at all.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Almost immediately there were steps in the hall, and a man stood in the doorway.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Almost immediately there were steps in the hall, and a man stood in the doorway.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading The short fat man looked angry as well as surprised, and he showed no pleasure at all.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The short fat man looked angry as well as surprised, and he showed no pleasure at all.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The short fat man looked angry as well as surprised, and he showed no pleasure at all.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Between the hair and the mustache were two piercing blue eyes which seemed to bore right into Granny and Rebecca Mary and Joan.
bisected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Between the hair and the mustache were two piercing blue eyes which seemed to bore right into Granny and Rebecca Mary and Joan.
cause to be bored
From this reading Between the hair and the mustache were two piercing blue eyes which seemed to bore right into Granny and Rebecca Mary and Joan.
bristlingverbUS /ˈbrɪsəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “bristle” — be in a state of movement or action
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
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 Almost immediately there were steps in the hall, and a man stood in the doorway.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Between the hair and the mustache were two piercing blue eyes which seemed to bore right into Granny and Rebecca Mary and Joan.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
GrannynounUS /ˈɡræni/
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading Between the hair and the mustache were two piercing blue eyes which seemed to bore right into Granny and Rebecca Mary and Joan.
grizzledadjectiveUS /ˈɡrɪzəld/
having dark hairs mixed with grey or white
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Almost immediately there were steps in the hall, and a man stood in the doorway.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Almost immediately there were steps in the hall, and a man stood in the doorway.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Almost immediately there were steps in the hall, and a man stood in the doorway.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Between the hair and the mustache were two piercing blue eyes which seemed to bore right into Granny and Rebecca Mary and Joan.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between the hair and the mustache were two piercing blue eyes which seemed to bore right into Granny and Rebecca Mary and Joan.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The short fat man looked angry as well as surprised, and he showed no pleasure at all.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Almost immediately there were steps in the hall, and a man stood in the doorway.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Between the hair and the mustache were two piercing blue eyes which seemed to bore right into Granny and Rebecca Mary and Joan.
the force of workers available
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
mustachenounUS /ˈmʌstæʃ/
an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
not any; not one
From this reading The short fat man looked angry as well as surprised, and he showed no pleasure at all.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
ogrenounUS /ˈoʊɡər/
a cruel wicked and inhuman person
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
piercingadjectiveUS /ˈpɪrsɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading Between the hair and the mustache were two piercing blue eyes which seemed to bore right into Granny and Rebecca Mary and Joan.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading The short fat man looked angry as well as surprised, and he showed no pleasure at all.
RebeccanounUS /rəˈbekə/
(Old Testament) wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau
From this reading Between the hair and the mustache were two piercing blue eyes which seemed to bore right into Granny and Rebecca Mary and Joan.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Between the hair and the mustache were two piercing blue eyes which seemed to bore right into Granny and Rebecca Mary and Joan.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Between the hair and the mustache were two piercing blue eyes which seemed to bore right into Granny and Rebecca Mary and Joan.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The short fat man looked angry as well as surprised, and he showed no pleasure at all.
slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Almost immediately there were steps in the hall, and a man stood in the doorway.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Almost immediately there were steps in the hall, and a man stood in the doorway.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Almost immediately there were steps in the hall, and a man stood in the doorway.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Almost immediately there were steps in the hall, and a man stood in the doorway.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Between the hair and the mustache were two piercing blue eyes which seemed to bore right into Granny and Rebecca Mary and Joan.
toppedadjectiveUS /tɑːpt/
having a top of a specified character
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Between the hair and the mustache were two piercing blue eyes which seemed to bore right into Granny and Rebecca Mary and Joan.
unexpectedlyadverbUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪdli/
in a way that was not expected
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
unlikeadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪk/
marked by dissimilarity
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
precisely as stated
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The short fat man looked angry as well as surprised, and he showed no pleasure at all.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Almost immediately there were steps in the hall, and a man stood in the doorway.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
which person or people
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He did not look unlike an ogre for he was short and fat and had a round red face which was topped with a shock of grizzled hair and bisected by a bristling grizzled mustache.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Behind the short fat man were two tall slim young men, who seemed very much surprised and pleased to find that guests had arrived so unexpectedly.
