1924
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But a man was sitting there, nevertheless, completely absorbed in his own thoughts.
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading But a man was sitting there, nevertheless, completely absorbed in his own thoughts.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An old gentleman appeared in the doorway and stood there for an instant before he saw him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading An old gentleman appeared in the doorway and stood there for an instant before he saw him.
AppletonnounUS /ˈæpəltən/
English physicist remembered for his studies of the ionosphere (1892-1966)
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading An old gentleman appeared in the doorway and stood there for an instant before he saw him.
terminate
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But a man was sitting there, nevertheless, completely absorbed in his own thoughts.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading But a man was sitting there, nevertheless, completely absorbed in his own thoughts.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
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 An old gentleman appeared in the doorway and stood there for an instant before he saw him.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading An old gentleman appeared in the doorway and stood there for an instant before he saw him.
a man of refinement
From this reading An old gentleman appeared in the doorway and stood there for an instant before he saw him.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading An old gentleman appeared in the doorway and stood there for an instant before he saw him.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading An old gentleman appeared in the doorway and stood there for an instant before he saw him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But a man was sitting there, nevertheless, completely absorbed in his own thoughts.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
https
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading See https://
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading An old gentleman appeared in the doorway and stood there for an instant before he saw him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading But a man was sitting there, nevertheless, completely absorbed in his own thoughts.
neatadjectiveUS /niːt/
clean or organized
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading But a man was sitting there, nevertheless, completely absorbed in his own thoughts.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
and nothing more
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
overlookedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkt/
not taken into account
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading But a man was sitting there, nevertheless, completely absorbed in his own thoughts.
rocking-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
cut with a saw
From this reading An old gentleman appeared in the doorway and stood there for an instant before he saw him.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading See https://
marked by absence of sound
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading But a man was sitting there, nevertheless, completely absorbed in his own thoughts.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
not in physical motion
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading An old gentleman appeared in the doorway and stood there for an instant before he saw him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But a man was sitting there, nevertheless, completely absorbed in his own thoughts.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But a man was sitting there, nevertheless, completely absorbed in his own thoughts.
tickingnounUS /ˈtɪkɪŋ/
a metallic tapping sound
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading So still it was that any one approaching the house could have heard the clock distinctly and would certainly have overlooked the silent figure in the old rocking-chair.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading D. Appleton and Company New York :: 1924 :: London The ticking of the old grandfather clock in the neat little New England house was the only sound to break the stillness.
