used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading “You alarm me, Paul.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
backwardadverbUS /ˈbækwərd/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
beseechverbUS /biˈsiːtʃ/
ask for or request earnestly
From this reading I beseech you, tell me the worst at once,” implored his mother.
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
CONFESSIONnounUS /kənˈfeʃən/
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading PAUL DESFRAYNE’S CONFESSION.
DESFRAYNE'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PAUL DESFRAYNE’S CONFESSION.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Paul Desfrayne’s weakness did not last many minutes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I beseech you, tell me the worst at once,” implored his mother.
imploredverbUS /ˌɪmˈplɔːrd/
past form of “implore” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading I beseech you, tell me the worst at once,” implored his mother.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
immediately past
From this reading Paul Desfrayne’s weakness did not last many minutes.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
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 Paul Desfrayne’s weakness did not last many minutes.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “You alarm me, Paul.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Paul Desfrayne’s weakness did not last many minutes.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading I beseech you, tell me the worst at once,” implored his mother.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Paul Desfrayne’s weakness did not last many minutes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
on one occasion
From this reading I beseech you, tell me the worst at once,” implored his mother.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading PAUL DESFRAYNE’S CONFESSION.
pausingverbUS /ˈpɔːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
strodeverbUS /stroʊd/
inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
express in words
From this reading I beseech you, tell me the worst at once,” implored his mother.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
a flaw or weak point
From this reading Paul Desfrayne’s weakness did not last many minutes.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Rising to his feet, he strode backward and forward half a dozen times; then, pausing, he leaned his folded arms on the back of the low, carved chair into which he had at first thrown himself.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading I beseech you, tell me the worst at once,” implored his mother.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You alarm me, Paul.