used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
(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 Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Continuous high desks on a raised platform extended around the walls, and continuous benches ran in front of them.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
benchesnounUS /ˈbentʃɪz/
plural of “bench” — a long seat for more than one person
From this reading Continuous high desks on a raised platform extended around the walls, and continuous benches ran in front of them.
bobbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
Christine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
ContinuousadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/
continuing in time or space without interruption
From this reading Continuous high desks on a raised platform extended around the walls, and continuous benches ran in front of them.
convulsionnounUS /kənˈvʌlʃən/
a sudden uncontrollable attack
From this reading Matilda followed and was taken with a similar convulsion on the same spot.
curtsyverbUS /ˈkɜːrtsi/
bend the knees in a gesture of respectful greeting
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
desksnounUS /desks/
plural of “desk” — a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Continuous high desks on a raised platform extended around the walls, and continuous benches ran in front of them.
dippedadjectiveUS /dɪpt/
having abnormal sagging of the spine (especially in horses)
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
put on clothes
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
remove the dust from
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading Continuous high desks on a raised platform extended around the walls, and continuous benches ran in front of them.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Matilda followed and was taken with a similar convulsion on the same spot.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Continuous high desks on a raised platform extended around the walls, and continuous benches ran in front of them.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
homagenounUS /ˈɑːmədʒ/
respectful deference
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
Matilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Matilda followed and was taken with a similar convulsion on the same spot.
a form of address for a man
From this reading MR.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Continuous high desks on a raised platform extended around the walls, and continuous benches ran in front of them.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Matilda followed and was taken with a similar convulsion on the same spot.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
PITZER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading Continuous high desks on a raised platform extended around the walls, and continuous benches ran in front of them.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Continuous high desks on a raised platform extended around the walls, and continuous benches ran in front of them.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Continuous high desks on a raised platform extended around the walls, and continuous benches ran in front of them.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Matilda followed and was taken with a similar convulsion on the same spot.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
marked by correspondence or resemblance
From this reading Matilda followed and was taken with a similar convulsion on the same spot.
smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/
superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Matilda followed and was taken with a similar convulsion on the same spot.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Matilda followed and was taken with a similar convulsion on the same spot.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Continuous high desks on a raised platform extended around the walls, and continuous benches ran in front of them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
threadbareadjectiveUS /ˈθredber/
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
violentlyadverbUS /ˈvaɪələntli/
in a violent manner
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Continuous high desks on a raised platform extended around the walls, and continuous benches ran in front of them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Matilda followed and was taken with a similar convulsion on the same spot.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading PITZER Christine stepped over the threshold and dropped a curtsy which dipped her dress in the dust.
which person or people
From this reading Then the smallest bobbed violently; all this homage being paid to a somewhat threadbare man who sat behind a high desk opposite the door.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Matilda followed and was taken with a similar convulsion on the same spot.
