used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
abettedverbUS /əˈbetɪd/
inflected form of “abet” — assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
(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 He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
in addition
From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
bed-chamber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
Cardross
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/
finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
collectionnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
ConstancenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəns/
a lake in southeastern Germany on the northern side of the Swiss Alps; forms part of the Rhine River
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
dineverbUS /daɪn/
have supper; eat dinner
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
elusiveadjectiveUS /ɪˈluːsɪv/
difficult to describe
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
start firing a weapon
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
gildedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪldɪd/
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
idolnounUS /ˈaɪdəl/
a material effigy that is worshipped
From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
jossnounUS /dʒɔːs/
a Chinese god worshipped in the form of an idol
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
leisurelyadverbUS /ˈliːzərli/
in an unhurried way or at one's convenience
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
set afire or burning
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
a female domestic
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
Malcourt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
mentallyadverbUS /ˈmentəli/
in your mind
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
a particular point in time
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
neckwearnounUS /ˈnekwer/
articles of clothing worn about the neck
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
nineteennounUS /ˈnaɪnˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eighteen and one
From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
stomachnounUS /ˈstʌmək/
an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
tentativelyadverbUS /ˈtentətɪvli/
in a tentative manner
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
tyingnounUS /ˈtaɪɪŋ/
the act of tying or binding things together
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
VillanounUS /ˈvɪlə/
Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
WaywardadjectiveUS /ˈweɪwərd/
resistant to guidance or discipline
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
whistledverbUS /ˈwɪsəld/
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
a Caucasian
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
in the company of; together with
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
