used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Charles leaned against the mantel and his brother stood at a window looking across the lake toward Cedar Point.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Charles leaned against the mantel and his brother stood at a window looking across the lake toward Cedar Point.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Charles leaned against the mantel and his brother stood at a window looking across the lake toward Cedar Point.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Francis left the room Uncle John’s eyes followed him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
blandlyadverbUS /ˈblændli/
in a bland manner
From this reading "Well?" he said lifting his eyebrows and looking blandly from one to the other.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Charles leaned against the mantel and his brother stood at a window looking across the lake toward Cedar Point.
CedarnounUS /ˈsiːdər/
any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars
From this reading Charles leaned against the mantel and his brother stood at a window looking across the lake toward Cedar Point.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
entertainedadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
eyebrowsnounUS /ˈaɪbraʊz/
plural of “eyebrow” — the arch of hair above each eye
From this reading "Well?" he said lifting his eyebrows and looking blandly from one to the other.
opinion or judgment
From this reading As Francis left the room Uncle John’s eyes followed him.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading As Francis left the room Uncle John’s eyes followed him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
Francis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Francis left the room Uncle John’s eyes followed him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Well?" he said lifting his eyebrows and looking blandly from one to the other.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
John'snounUS /dʒɑːnz/
possessive form of “john” — a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading As Francis left the room Uncle John’s eyes followed him.
Kimberly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading Charles leaned against the mantel and his brother stood at a window looking across the lake toward Cedar Point.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Charles leaned against the mantel and his brother stood at a window looking across the lake toward Cedar Point.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading As Francis left the room Uncle John’s eyes followed him.
a room where books are kept
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
liftingverbUS /ˈlɪftɪŋ/
-ing form of “lift” — raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading "Well?" he said lifting his eyebrows and looking blandly from one to the other.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Charles leaned against the mantel and his brother stood at a window looking across the lake toward Cedar Point.
MacBirneys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
mantelnounUS /ˈmæntəl/
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading Charles leaned against the mantel and his brother stood at a window looking across the lake toward Cedar Point.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
nephewsnounUS /ˈnefjuːz/
plural of “nephew” — a son of your brother or sister
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "Well?" he said lifting his eyebrows and looking blandly from one to the other.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Charles leaned against the mantel and his brother stood at a window looking across the lake toward Cedar Point.
in the near future
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading As Francis left the room Uncle John’s eyes followed him.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well?" he said lifting his eyebrows and looking blandly from one to the other.
for a short time
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Charles leaned against the mantel and his brother stood at a window looking across the lake toward Cedar Point.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Well?" he said lifting his eyebrows and looking blandly from one to the other.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Charles leaned against the mantel and his brother stood at a window looking across the lake toward Cedar Point.
TowersnounUS /ˈtaʊərz/
plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading As Francis left the room Uncle John’s eyes followed him.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
(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 "Well?" he said lifting his eyebrows and looking blandly from one to the other.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
wheeledadjectiveUS /wiːld/
having wheels; often used in combination
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
in or at the place that
From this reading One morning shortly after the MacBirneys had been entertained at The Towers John Kimberly was wheeled into his library where Charles and Robert were waiting for him.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Charles leaned against the mantel and his brother stood at a window looking across the lake toward Cedar Point.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Presently they wandered back with cheerful suspicion toward his nephews, and he laid his good arm on the table as they took chairs near him.
