21
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading § 21 He sought refuge in custom, and going up to her, laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed her gravely.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
(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 All his skin was hot and moist—oh, God, what had he to face?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Here she was, driving in at the gate ... outside the door ... inside the room at last.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
clenching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading § 21 He sought refuge in custom, and going up to her, laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed her gravely.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Here she was, driving in at the gate ... outside the door ... inside the room at last.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading Here she was, driving in at the gate ... outside the door ... inside the room at last.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading All his skin was hot and moist—oh, God, what had he to face?
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
set up or found
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading Here she was, driving in at the gate ... outside the door ... inside the room at last.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading All his skin was hot and moist—oh, God, what had he to face?
the act of departing
From this reading § 21 He sought refuge in custom, and going up to her, laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed her gravely.
in a grave and sober manner
From this reading § 21 He sought refuge in custom, and going up to her, laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed her gravely.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All his skin was hot and moist—oh, God, what had he to face?
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
he'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here she was, driving in at the gate ... outside the door ... inside the room at last.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading All his skin was hot and moist—oh, God, what had he to face?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Here she was, driving in at the gate ... outside the door ... inside the room at last.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Here she was, driving in at the gate ... outside the door ... inside the room at last.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
past form of “kiss” — touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.
From this reading § 21 He sought refuge in custom, and going up to her, laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed her gravely.
set down according to a plan
From this reading § 21 He sought refuge in custom, and going up to her, laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed her gravely.
immediately past
From this reading Here she was, driving in at the gate ... outside the door ... inside the room at last.
moistadjectiveUS /mɔɪst/
slightly wet
From this reading All his skin was hot and moist—oh, God, what had he to face?
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
not any; not one
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading All his skin was hot and moist—oh, God, what had he to face?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading § 21 He sought refuge in custom, and going up to her, laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed her gravely.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Here she was, driving in at the gate ... outside the door ... inside the room at last.
palmsnounUS /pɑːmz/
plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
purringverbUS /ˈpɜːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “purr” — make a soft swishing sound
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
refugenounUS /ˈrefjuːdʒ/
a safe place
From this reading § 21 He sought refuge in custom, and going up to her, laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed her gravely.
precisely, exactly
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Here she was, driving in at the gate ... outside the door ... inside the room at last.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Here she was, driving in at the gate ... outside the door ... inside the room at last.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading § 21 He sought refuge in custom, and going up to her, laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed her gravely.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading All his skin was hot and moist—oh, God, what had he to face?
that is looked for
From this reading § 21 He sought refuge in custom, and going up to her, laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed her gravely.
StellanounUS /ˈstelə/
United States minimalist painter (born in 1936)
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Far away he could hear the purring of a car—it drew nearer, and Peter, clenching his hands, found the palms damp.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All his skin was hot and moist—oh, God, what had he to face?
except if; if not
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading § 21 He sought refuge in custom, and going up to her, laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed her gravely.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All his skin was hot and moist—oh, God, what had he to face?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading All his skin was hot and moist—oh, God, what had he to face?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The scene that was coming would be dreadful—he’d never get through it unless Stella helped him, and he’d no right to expect help from her.
