used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
quickly and without warning
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
BritnounUS /brɪt/
a native or inhabitant of Great Britain
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
DadnounUS /dæd/
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
graspedverbUS /ɡræspt/
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
be suspended or hanging
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
and nothing more
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
LorrainenounUS /lərˈeɪn/
an eastern French region rich in iron-ore deposits
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
NERVEnounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
obliviousadjectiveUS /əˈblɪviəs/
(followed by “to” or “of”) lacking conscious awareness of
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
questioningadjectiveUS /ˈkwestʃənɪŋ/
perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
to say, state, or perform again
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
tidying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
washedadjectiveUS /wɑːʃt/
clean by virtue of having been washed in water
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
which person or people
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
