used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
abrasionnounUS /əˈbreɪʒən/
an abraded area where the skin is torn or worn off
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
creakverbUS /kriːk/
make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
criticsnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪks/
plural of “critic” — a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
deductionsnounUS /dɪˈdʌkʃənz/
plural of “deduction” — a reduction in the gross amount on which a tax is calculated; reduces taxes by the percentage fixed for the taxpayer's income bracket
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
discerningadjectiveUS /dɪˈsɜːrnɪŋ/
having or revealing keen insight and good judgment
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
galleriesnounUS /ˈɡæləriz/
plural of “gallery” — spectators at a golf or tennis match
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
for more time
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
a particular point in time
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
MOUNTAINEERnounUS /ˈmaʊntɪnɪr/
someone who climbs mountains
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
mountaineer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
not any; not one
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
not one, and not any
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
nunnounUS /nʌn/
a woman religious
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
precludedverbUS /prɪˈkluːdɪd/
past form of “preclude” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
probabilitynounUS /ˌprɑːbəˈbɪlətiː/
a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur; a number expressing the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
past form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
responsibleadjectiveUS /riˈspɑːnsəbəl/
worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
reverenceverbUS /ˈrevərəns/
regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
rustyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌsti/
covered with or consisting of rust
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
SaneradjectiveUS /ˈseɪnər/
comparative of “sane” — mentally healthy; free from mental disorder
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
in the near future
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
stalkverbUS /stɔːk/
walk stiffly
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
TusknounUS /tʌsk/
a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
unconsciousnessnounUS /ˌʌnˈkɑːnʃəsnɪs/
a state lacking normal awareness of the self or environment
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Saner deductions had recalled how he was fighting up to the moment Tusk threw him off, and this precluded the probability of a broken neck.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
varnishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
in or at the place that
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
which person or people
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading None of those discerning critics who stalk the galleries on varnishing day could have passed a canvas such as this without bending their rusty knees at least one creak in humble reverence.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The small abrasion over his temple, where it must have struck a desk, could alone be responsible for the unconsciousness which, she now felt assured, would soon be passing.
people who are wounded
From this reading THE WOUNDED MOUNTAINEER She was no longer fearful for his life.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Had Jane been dressed as a nun, the picture she made with the young mountaineer's head upon her lap would have startled the world.
