used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN EMISSARY.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "May you burst!" replied the polite youth, and he tried to kick Calabressa's legs and make off at the same time.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "May you burst!" replied the polite youth, and he tried to kick Calabressa's legs and make off at the same time.
beggarnounUS /ˈbeɡər/
a pauper who lives by begging
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
besetverbUS /bɪˈset/
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading "May you burst!" replied the polite youth, and he tried to kick Calabressa's legs and make off at the same time.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
Calabressa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
Calabressa's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "May you burst!" replied the polite youth, and he tried to kick Calabressa's legs and make off at the same time.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
cuffnounUS /kʌf/
the lap consisting of a turned-back hem encircling the end of the sleeve or leg
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
departingverbUS /dɪˈpɑːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “depart” — move away from a place into another direction
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
EMISSARYnounUS /ˈeməseri/
someone sent on a mission to represent the interests of someone else
From this reading AN EMISSARY.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
featnounUS /fiːt/
a notable achievement
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
cause to move by striking
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
importunateadjective
expressing persistant and earnest entreaty
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
kickverbUS /kɪk/
drive or propel with the foot
From this reading "May you burst!" replied the polite youth, and he tried to kick Calabressa's legs and make off at the same time.
staying power
From this reading "May you burst!" replied the polite youth, and he tried to kick Calabressa's legs and make off at the same time.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
engage in
From this reading "May you burst!" replied the polite youth, and he tried to kick Calabressa's legs and make off at the same time.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "May you burst!" replied the polite youth, and he tried to kick Calabressa's legs and make off at the same time.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
NaplesnounUS /ˈneɪpəlz/
a port and tourist center in southwestern Italy; capital of the Campania region
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "May you burst!" replied the polite youth, and he tried to kick Calabressa's legs and make off at the same time.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
politeadjectiveUS /pəˈlaɪt/
showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.
From this reading "May you burst!" replied the polite youth, and he tried to kick Calabressa's legs and make off at the same time.
quaysnounUS /kiːz/
plural of “quay” — wharf usually built parallel to the shoreline
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
with speed
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "May you burst!" replied the polite youth, and he tried to kick Calabressa's legs and make off at the same time.
uttered with a trill
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
Identical; not different.
From this reading "May you burst!" replied the polite youth, and he tried to kick Calabressa's legs and make off at the same time.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
signorenounUS /siˈnjɔːreɪ/
an Italian title of respect for a man; equivalent to the English “sir”; used separately (not prefixed to his name)
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
starvingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrvɪŋ/
suffering from lack of food
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
not in physical motion
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "May you burst!" replied the polite youth, and he tried to kick Calabressa's legs and make off at the same time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading "May you burst!" replied the polite youth, and he tried to kick Calabressa's legs and make off at the same time.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
under normal conditions
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
at the time that
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This feat he failed in, so that, as he was departing, Calabressa hit him a cuff on the side of the head which sent him rolling.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Something for bread, signore--for the love of God--my father taken to heaven, my mother starving--bread, signore--" "To the devil with you!" said Calabressa.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading One warm, still afternoon Calabressa was walking quickly along the crowded quays of Naples, when he was beset by a more than usually importunate beggar--a youth of about twelve, almost naked.
