used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An almost entranced silence held the staircase, a silence that he could not bring himself to violate.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading An almost entranced silence held the staircase, a silence that he could not bring himself to violate.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An almost entranced silence held the staircase, a silence that he could not bring himself to violate.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
arrangingnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒɪŋ/
the act of arranging and adapting a piece of music
From this reading It would be delightful to make him share the responsibility of summoning Porcher from his task of arranging Lonsdale’s wine.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It would be delightful to make him share the responsibility of summoning Porcher from his task of arranging Lonsdale’s wine.
boldlyadverbUS /ˈboʊldli/
with boldness, in a bold manner
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
bracedadjectiveUS /breɪst/
positioned so as to be ready for confrontation or danger
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading An almost entranced silence held the staircase, a silence that he could not bring himself to violate.
chokedadjectiveUS /tʃoʊkt/
stopped up; clogged up
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading An almost entranced silence held the staircase, a silence that he could not bring himself to violate.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading It would be delightful to make him share the responsibility of summoning Porcher from his task of arranging Lonsdale’s wine.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading On the door of the rooms opposite he read his neighbor’s name—_Mackintosh_.
entrancedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtrænst/
filled with wonder and delight
From this reading An almost entranced silence held the staircase, a silence that he could not bring himself to violate.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
freshmannounUS /ˈfreʃmən/
a first-year undergraduate
From this reading He wished he knew whether Mackintosh were a freshman.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It would be delightful to make him share the responsibility of summoning Porcher from his task of arranging Lonsdale’s wine.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading An almost entranced silence held the staircase, a silence that he could not bring himself to violate.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading An almost entranced silence held the staircase, a silence that he could not bring himself to violate.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It would be delightful to make him share the responsibility of summoning Porcher from his task of arranging Lonsdale’s wine.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On the door of the rooms opposite he read his neighbor’s name—_Mackintosh_.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would be delightful to make him share the responsibility of summoning Porcher from his task of arranging Lonsdale’s wine.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He wished he knew whether Mackintosh were a freshman.
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
Lonsdale's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be delightful to make him share the responsibility of summoning Porcher from his task of arranging Lonsdale’s wine.
MackintoshnounUS /ˈmækəntɑːʃ/
a lightweight waterproof (usually rubberized) fabric
From this reading On the door of the rooms opposite he read his neighbor’s name—_Mackintosh_.
engage in
From this reading It would be delightful to make him share the responsibility of summoning Porcher from his task of arranging Lonsdale’s wine.
(Old Testament) the guardian archangel of the Jews
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading On the door of the rooms opposite he read his neighbor’s name—_Mackintosh_.
neighbor'snounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
possessive form of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading On the door of the rooms opposite he read his neighbor’s name—_Mackintosh_.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading An almost entranced silence held the staircase, a silence that he could not bring himself to violate.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the door of the rooms opposite he read his neighbor’s name—_Mackintosh_.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading On the door of the rooms opposite he read his neighbor’s name—_Mackintosh_.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
performancenounUS /pərˈfɔːrməns/
a dramatic or musical entertainment
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
Porcher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be delightful to make him share the responsibility of summoning Porcher from his task of arranging Lonsdale’s wine.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading On the door of the rooms opposite he read his neighbor’s name—_Mackintosh_.
rehearsalsnounUS /rɪˈhɜːrsəlz/
plural of “rehearsal” — a practice session in preparation for a public performance (as of a play or speech or concert)
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
responsibilitynounUS /riˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading It would be delightful to make him share the responsibility of summoning Porcher from his task of arranging Lonsdale’s wine.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading On the door of the rooms opposite he read his neighbor’s name—_Mackintosh_.
have in common
From this reading It would be delightful to make him share the responsibility of summoning Porcher from his task of arranging Lonsdale’s wine.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading An almost entranced silence held the staircase, a silence that he could not bring himself to violate.
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading An almost entranced silence held the staircase, a silence that he could not bring himself to violate.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
summoningnounUS /ˈsʌmənɪŋ/
calling up supposed supernatural forces by spells and incantations
From this reading It would be delightful to make him share the responsibility of summoning Porcher from his task of arranging Lonsdale’s wine.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading It would be delightful to make him share the responsibility of summoning Porcher from his task of arranging Lonsdale’s wine.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading An almost entranced silence held the staircase, a silence that he could not bring himself to violate.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
violateverbUS /ˈvaɪəleɪt/
fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns
From this reading An almost entranced silence held the staircase, a silence that he could not bring himself to violate.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Michael braced himself for the performance after these choked and muffled rehearsals, and went boldly out on to the stone landing.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He wished he knew whether Mackintosh were a freshman.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading He wished he knew whether Mackintosh were a freshman.
fermented juice (of grapes especially)
From this reading It would be delightful to make him share the responsibility of summoning Porcher from his task of arranging Lonsdale’s wine.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading He wished he knew whether Mackintosh were a freshman.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be delightful to make him share the responsibility of summoning Porcher from his task of arranging Lonsdale’s wine.
