used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
make certain of
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
for the reason that
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
boyishadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young boy
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
the act of burning something
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
byplaynoun
incidental activity performed by an actor for dramatic effect
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/
finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
coldlyadverbUS /ˈkoʊldli/
lacking warmth of feeling; in a cold, unemotional manner
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
criticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
dabverbUS /dæb/
apply (usually a liquid) to a surface
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
ecstasynounUS /ˈekstəsi/
a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
the organ of sight
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
grinningnounUS /ˈɡrɪnɪŋ/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
humanlyadverbUS /ˈhjuːmənli/
in the manner of human beings
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
impressiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpresɪv/
making a strong or vivid impression
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
JohnnynounUS /ˈdʒɑːni/
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
Johnny'snounUS /ˈdʒɑːniz/
possessive form of “johnny” — “Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
set afire or burning
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
and nothing more
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
not any; not one
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
slantedadjectiveUS /ˈslæntɪd/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
squinted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
swellingnounUS /ˈswelɪŋ/
an abnormal protuberance or localized enlargement
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
Tomaso
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
at the time that
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
worriedadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrid/
afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
