used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
cause to be bored
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading “Was it your carriage in which I escaped?”
cloakedadjectiveUS /kloʊkt/
having its true character concealed with the intent of misleading
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
embarrassedadjectiveUS /ɪmˈberəst/
feeling or caused to feel ill at ease or self-conscious or ashamed
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading “Was it your carriage in which I escaped?”
explainingverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
opinion or judgment
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
death of a person
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
half-contemptuous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Was it your carriage in which I escaped?”
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading I inquired.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
Lesba's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
mantillanounUS /mænˈtɪlə/
a woman's silk or lace scarf
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
Mazanovitch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
come together
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
not any; not one
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
obligeverbUS /əˈblaɪdʒ/
force somebody to do something
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
questioningadjectiveUS /ˈkwestʃənɪŋ/
perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
recurring again and again
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
senhornoun
a Portuguese title of respect; equivalent to English “Mr”
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
speechlessadjectiveUS /ˈspiːtʃləs/
temporarily incapable of speaking
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lesba’s fair face, peering from beneath her mantilla, was grave but set, and her brilliant eyes bore a questioning and half-contemptuous look that was hard to meet.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Was it your carriage in which I escaped?”
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Astonishment rendered me speechless, and at first I could do no more than bow with an embarrassed air to the cloaked figure before me.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “That is my name, senhor,” she repeated, “and you will oblige me by explaining why you are sending it to Captain Mazanovitch.”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Was it your carriage in which I escaped?”
