used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
anew
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
amiablyadverbUS /ˈeɪmiəbli/
in an affable manner
From this reading "I was wondering," he said, amiably, "how I was going to climb back over the wall."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "I was wondering," he said, amiably, "how I was going to climb back over the wall."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
capricenounUS /kəˈpriːs/
a sudden desire
From this reading A sudden caprice tinged with malice dawned in the most guileless of smiles as she raised her eyes to his:
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading "I was wondering," he said, amiably, "how I was going to climb back over the wall."
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading A sudden caprice tinged with malice dawned in the most guileless of smiles as she raised her eyes to his:
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You forgot your ladder this time, didn't you?"
dismissalnounUS /dɪˈsmɪsəl/
a judgment disposing of the matter without a trial
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
executionnounUS /ˌeksəˈkjuːʃən/
putting a condemned person to death
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
opinion or judgment
From this reading A sudden caprice tinged with malice dawned in the most guileless of smiles as she raised her eyes to his:
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading "You forgot your ladder this time, didn't you?"
formalitynounUS /fɔːrˈmæləti/
a requirement of etiquette or custom
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
the act of departing
From this reading "I was wondering," he said, amiably, "how I was going to climb back over the wall."
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
guilelessadjectiveUS /ˈɡaɪlləs/
free of deceit
From this reading A sudden caprice tinged with malice dawned in the most guileless of smiles as she raised her eyes to his:
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was wondering," he said, amiably, "how I was going to climb back over the wall."
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I was wondering," he said, amiably, "how I was going to climb back over the wall."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
indifferentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfrənt/
marked by a lack of interest
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
informaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrməl/
not formal
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading "You forgot your ladder this time, didn't you?"
go away from a place
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
malicenounUS /ˈmæləs/
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading A sudden caprice tinged with malice dawned in the most guileless of smiles as she raised her eyes to his:
meaninglessadjectiveUS /ˈmiːnɪŋləs/
having no meaning or direction or purpose
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
used to form the superlative
From this reading A sudden caprice tinged with malice dawned in the most guileless of smiles as she raised her eyes to his:
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "I was wondering," he said, amiably, "how I was going to climb back over the wall."
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
phrasenounUS /freɪz/
an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
politelyadverbUS /pəˈlaɪtli/
in a polite manner
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading A sudden caprice tinged with malice dawned in the most guileless of smiles as she raised her eyes to his:
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I was wondering," he said, amiably, "how I was going to climb back over the wall."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
smilesnounUS /smaɪlz/
plural of “smile” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading A sudden caprice tinged with malice dawned in the most guileless of smiles as she raised her eyes to his:
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading A sudden caprice tinged with malice dawned in the most guileless of smiles as she raised her eyes to his:
carry out
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "You forgot your ladder this time, didn't you?"
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "You forgot your ladder this time, didn't you?"
tingedverbUS /tɪŋd/
past form of “tinge” — affect as in thought or feeling
From this reading A sudden caprice tinged with malice dawned in the most guileless of smiles as she raised her eyes to his:
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading "I was wondering," he said, amiably, "how I was going to climb back over the wall."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A JOURNEY TO THE MOON There was a silence so politely indifferent on her part that he felt it to be the signal for his dismissal.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
showing curiosity
From this reading "I was wondering," he said, amiably, "how I was going to climb back over the wall."
but in spite of that
From this reading And he took his leave with a formality so attractive, and a good humour so informal, that before she meant to she had spoken again--a phrase politely meaningless in itself, yet--if he chose to take it so--acting as a stay of execution.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You forgot your ladder this time, didn't you?"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You forgot your ladder this time, didn't you?"
