used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
absentlyadverb
in an absentminded or preoccupied manner
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading As they disappeared around the corner plum-tree, she sank to one of the rocks.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As they disappeared around the corner plum-tree, she sank to one of the rocks.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
have
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading As they disappeared around the corner plum-tree, she sank to one of the rocks.
placed crosswise
From this reading Now the nonchalant gardeners crossed her path, making respectful salutation in transit.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading As they disappeared around the corner plum-tree, she sank to one of the rocks.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
opinion or judgment
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Her hands fell limp, her head sank.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
gardenersnounUS /ˈɡɑːrdənərz/
plural of “gardener” — someone who takes care of a garden
From this reading Now the nonchalant gardeners crossed her path, making respectful salutation in transit.
gluedadjectiveUS /ɡluːd/
affixed or as if affixed with glue or paste
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Her hands fell limp, her head sank.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Her hands fell limp, her head sank.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Now the nonchalant gardeners crossed her path, making respectful salutation in transit.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now the nonchalant gardeners crossed her path, making respectful salutation in transit.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
limpverbUS /lɪmp/
walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury
From this reading Her hands fell limp, her head sank.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Now the nonchalant gardeners crossed her path, making respectful salutation in transit.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
nonchalantadjectiveUS /ˌnɑːnʃəˈlɑːnt/
marked by blithe unconcern
From this reading Now the nonchalant gardeners crossed her path, making respectful salutation in transit.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now the nonchalant gardeners crossed her path, making respectful salutation in transit.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
on one occasion
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As they disappeared around the corner plum-tree, she sank to one of the rocks.
a course of conduct
From this reading Now the nonchalant gardeners crossed her path, making respectful salutation in transit.
plum-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As they disappeared around the corner plum-tree, she sank to one of the rocks.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
purportverbUS /ˈpɜːrpɔːrt/
have the often specious appearance of being, intending, or claiming
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
respectfuladjectiveUS /rɪˈspektfəl/
full of or exhibiting respect
From this reading Now the nonchalant gardeners crossed her path, making respectful salutation in transit.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading As they disappeared around the corner plum-tree, she sank to one of the rocks.
saggingadjectiveUS /ˈsæɡɪŋ/
hanging down (as from exhaustion or weakness)
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
salutationnoun
an act of honor or courteous recognition
From this reading Now the nonchalant gardeners crossed her path, making respectful salutation in transit.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading As they disappeared around the corner plum-tree, she sank to one of the rocks.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they disappeared around the corner plum-tree, she sank to one of the rocks.
shorteradjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtər/
comparative of “short” — primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
sleevenounUS /sliːv/
the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
speculationnounUS /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃən/
a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Now the nonchalant gardeners crossed her path, making respectful salutation in transit.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they disappeared around the corner plum-tree, she sank to one of the rocks.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her eyes followed them absently, but all at once became glued to a small sagging point in the left sleeve of the shorter man.
tortureverbUS /ˈtɔːrtʃər/
torment emotionally or mentally
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
transitnounUS /ˈtrænzɪt/
a surveying instrument for measuring horizontal and vertical angles, consisting of a small telescope mounted on a tripod
From this reading Now the nonchalant gardeners crossed her path, making respectful salutation in transit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
the words that are spoken
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading As if she had not enough to bear already, without the torture of speculation on the purport of those written words she was never to see!
