used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
acumennounUS /əˈkjuːmən/
a tapering point
From this reading Mr. Birnes paused long enough to congratulate himself upon his marvelous acumen, and then he approached the driver.
(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 Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
alongsideadverbUS /əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd/
side by side
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading Mr. Birnes paused long enough to congratulate himself upon his marvelous acumen, and then he approached the driver.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
a line of approach
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
Billingsgatenoun
foul-mouthed or obscene abuse
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
Birnes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
cause to be bored
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
cabsnounUS /kæbz/
plural of “cab” — a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
chuckledverbUS /ˈtʃʌkəld/
past form of “chuckle” — laugh quietly or with restraint
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
congratulateverbUS /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪt/
say something to someone that expresses praise
From this reading Mr. Birnes paused long enough to congratulate himself upon his marvelous acumen, and then he approached the driver.
curbnounUS /kɜːrb/
an edge between a sidewalk and a roadway consisting of a line of curbstones (usually forming part of a gutter)
From this reading Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
drivernounUS /ˈdraɪvər/
the operator of a motor vehicle
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading It was too easy!
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Mr. Birnes paused long enough to congratulate himself upon his marvelous acumen, and then he approached the driver.
the organ of sight
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
farenounUS /fer/
an agenda of things to do
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
FifthnounUS /fɪfθ/
a quantity of liquor equal to one fifth of a United States gallon
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
hansomnounUS /ˈhænsəm/
a two-wheeled horse-drawn covered carriage with the driver's seat above and behind the passengers
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mr. Birnes paused long enough to congratulate himself upon his marvelous acumen, and then he approached the driver.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Birnes paused long enough to congratulate himself upon his marvelous acumen, and then he approached the driver.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
JohnsnounUS /dʒɑːnz/
United States artist and proponent of pop art (born in 1930)
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
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 Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
MadisonnounUS /ˈmædəsən/
4th President of the United States; member of the Continental Congress and rapporteur at the Constitutional Convention in 1776; helped frame the Bill of Rights (1751-1836)
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
marvelousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrvələs/
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading Mr. Birnes paused long enough to congratulate himself upon his marvelous acumen, and then he approached the driver.
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
of an obscure nature
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Mr. Birnes paused long enough to congratulate himself upon his marvelous acumen, and then he approached the driver.
pavementsnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənts/
plural of “pavement” — the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
prospectiveadjectiveUS /prəˈspektɪv/
of or concerned with or related to the future
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
that is looked for
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
spurnedadjectiveUS /spɜːrnd/
rebuffed (by a lover) without warning
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
make square
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
swappingverbUS /ˈswɑːpɪŋ/
inflected form of “swap” — exchange or give (something) in exchange for
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Mr. Birnes paused long enough to congratulate himself upon his marvelous acumen, and then he approached the driver.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. Birnes paused long enough to congratulate himself upon his marvelous acumen, and then he approached the driver.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It was too easy!
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Mr. Birnes paused long enough to congratulate himself upon his marvelous acumen, and then he approached the driver.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Here was a long line of cabs drawn up beside the curb, some twenty or thirty in all.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The fifth from the end bore the number he sought--Mr. Birnes chuckled; and there, alongside it, stood William Johns, swapping Billingsgate with the driver of a hansom, the while he kept one eye open for a prospective fare.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN Mr. Birnes' busy heels fairly spurned the pavements of Fifth Avenue as he started toward Madison Square.
