used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
babelnounUS /ˈbæbəl/
(Genesis 11:1-11) a tower built by Noah's descendants (probably in Babylon) who intended it to reach up to heaven; God foiled them by confusing their language so they could no longer understand one another
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
elbownounUS /ˈelboʊ/
hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "It is extraordinary!" the latter exclaimed.
explanationsnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “explanation” — a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading "It is extraordinary!" the latter exclaimed.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
forcefulnessnounUS /ˈfɔːrsfəlnəs/
physical energy or intensity
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
harbourverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It is extraordinary!" the latter exclaimed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It is extraordinary!" the latter exclaimed.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading "It is extraordinary!" the latter exclaimed.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
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 babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
meeklyadverbUS /ˈmiːkli/
in a submissive or spiritless manner
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
a particular point in time
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
non-comprehension
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
Norgate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
Ostend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
passengersnounUS /ˈpæsəndʒərz/
plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
pertinacitynoun
persistent determination
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
Selingman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
stand-still
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
create by training and teaching
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
which person or people
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
