used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He swung round at that and gave her a most goblinish look, rubbing the rat’s nose as he did so, against his cheek.
alteredadjectiveUS /ˈɔːltərd/
changed in form or character without becoming something else
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He swung round at that and gave her a most goblinish look, rubbing the rat’s nose as he did so, against his cheek.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading He swung round at that and gave her a most goblinish look, rubbing the rat’s nose as he did so, against his cheek.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He swung round at that and gave her a most goblinish look, rubbing the rat’s nose as he did so, against his cheek.
drummedverbUS /drʌmd/
inflected form of “drum” — make a rhythmic sound
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading “You go far, Nance, you go far with your questions.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
forgettingverbUS /fərˈɡetɪŋ/
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He swung round at that and gave her a most goblinish look, rubbing the rat’s nose as he did so, against his cheek.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “You go far, Nance, you go far with your questions.
goblinish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swung round at that and gave her a most goblinish look, rubbing the rat’s nose as he did so, against his cheek.
a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He swung round at that and gave her a most goblinish look, rubbing the rat’s nose as he did so, against his cheek.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He swung round at that and gave her a most goblinish look, rubbing the rat’s nose as he did so, against his cheek.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
mantelpiecenoun
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
the force of workers available
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He swung round at that and gave her a most goblinish look, rubbing the rat’s nose as he did so, against his cheek.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
NancenounUS /næns/
offensive term for a homosexual man
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
Nance's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading He swung round at that and gave her a most goblinish look, rubbing the rat’s nose as he did so, against his cheek.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading “You go far, Nance, you go far with your questions.
rat'snounUS /ræts/
possessive form of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading He swung round at that and gave her a most goblinish look, rubbing the rat’s nose as he did so, against his cheek.
retainverbUS /rɪˈteɪn/
hold back within
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
Ricoletto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
Rodmoor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading He swung round at that and gave her a most goblinish look, rubbing the rat’s nose as he did so, against his cheek.
rubbingnounUS /ˈrʌbɪŋ/
the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another
From this reading He swung round at that and gave her a most goblinish look, rubbing the rat’s nose as he did so, against his cheek.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading He swung round at that and gave her a most goblinish look, rubbing the rat’s nose as he did so, against his cheek.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
Traherne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
unmarriedadjectiveUS /ənˈmerid/
not married or related to the unmarried state
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Mr. Traherne rose and, turning his back to her, drummed with his fingers on the mantelpiece while Ricoletto struggled desperately to retain his balance.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading A queer thought came suddenly into Nance’s head and she asked the priest why it was that there were so many unmarried men in Rodmoor.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Nance looked at him with immense gratitude and, completely forgetting his instructions, altered her position to what it had been before.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You go far, Nance, you go far with your questions.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You go far, Nance, you go far with your questions.
