used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
anew
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
pleasantly occupied
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
react verbally
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
assurancenounUS /əˈʃʊrəns/
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
brieflyadverbUS /ˈbriːfli/
for a short time
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
briskadjectiveUS /brɪsk/
quick and energetic
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
buttonnounUS /ˈbʌtən/
a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
charcoalnounUS /ˈtʃɑːrkoʊl/
a carbonaceous material obtained by heating wood or other organic matter in the absence of air
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
without stop or interruption
From this reading He continued working.
decisiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈsaɪsɪv/
determining or having the power to determine an outcome
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
well in the past; former
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
foilverbUS /fɔɪl/
enhance by contrast
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
hallwaynounUS /ˈhɔːlweɪ/
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He continued working.
hesitatingadjectiveUS /ˈhezəteɪtɪŋ/
lacking decisiveness of character; unable to act or decide quickly or firmly
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
intervalnounUS /ˈɪntərvəl/
a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
lead-weighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
Somebody'snounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdiz/
possessive form of “somebody” — a human being
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
stringnounUS /strɪŋ/
a lightweight cord
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
timiditynounUS /təˈmɪdəti/
fear of the unknown or unfamiliar or fear of making decisions
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
a source of difficulty
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading He continued working.
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
