used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
anew
From this reading “I wish he would never come here again.”
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an enormous old ebony instrument, mellow and vibrant in its response to his touch.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was an enormous old ebony instrument, mellow and vibrant in its response to his touch.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Finally she drew a quick, impatient breath.
Carlota
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “I wish he would never come here again.”
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
having the place or position changed
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Finally she drew a quick, impatient breath.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
ebonynounUS /ˈebəni/
a very dark black
From this reading It was an enormous old ebony instrument, mellow and vibrant in its response to his touch.
elbowsnounUS /ˈelboʊz/
plural of “elbow” — hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading It was an enormous old ebony instrument, mellow and vibrant in its response to his touch.
divisible by two
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Finally she drew a quick, impatient breath.
folios
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
destroyed or killed
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “I wish he would never come here again.”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was an enormous old ebony instrument, mellow and vibrant in its response to his touch.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I wish he would never come here again.”
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading Finally she drew a quick, impatient breath.
improvisingverbUS /ˈɪmprəvaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “improvise” — perform without preparation
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was an enormous old ebony instrument, mellow and vibrant in its response to his touch.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading It was an enormous old ebony instrument, mellow and vibrant in its response to his touch.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an enormous old ebony instrument, mellow and vibrant in its response to his touch.
a native or inhabitant of Italy
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was an enormous old ebony instrument, mellow and vibrant in its response to his touch.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
maestronounUS /ˈmaɪstroʊ/
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
mellowadjectiveUS /ˈmeloʊ/
unhurried and relaxed
From this reading It was an enormous old ebony instrument, mellow and vibrant in its response to his touch.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “I wish he would never come here again.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Finally she drew a quick, impatient breath.
responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/
a result
From this reading It was an enormous old ebony instrument, mellow and vibrant in its response to his touch.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Finally she drew a quick, impatient breath.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was an enormous old ebony instrument, mellow and vibrant in its response to his touch.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading It was an enormous old ebony instrument, mellow and vibrant in its response to his touch.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
vibrantadjectiveUS /ˈvaɪbrənt/
vigorous and animated
From this reading It was an enormous old ebony instrument, mellow and vibrant in its response to his touch.
WardnounUS /wɔːrd/
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading He did not even look up as Carlota leaned her elbows upon a pile of dusty folios, watching him anxiously.
at the time that
From this reading After Ward had gone the old Italian maestro seated himself at the piano, improvising as he always did when he was disturbed.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading “I wish he would never come here again.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “I wish he would never come here again.”
