used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
backedadjectiveUS /bækt/
having a back or backing, usually of a specified type
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading “Oh, I beg your pardon,” said Jack.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
a young person of either sex
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
deftadjectiveUS /deft/
skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I didn’t mean to get in your way.”
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “Hallo!” he exclaimed, looking at her in surprise.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “I didn’t mean to get in your way.”
Hallo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Hallo!” he exclaimed, looking at her in surprise.
HASauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Oh, I beg your pardon,” said Jack.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
a small worthless amount
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading “Hallo!” he exclaimed, looking at her in surprise.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading “I didn’t mean to get in your way.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, I beg your pardon,” said Jack.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
paintingnounUS /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/
graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
accept an excuse for
From this reading “Oh, I beg your pardon,” said Jack.
in the near future
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Oh, I beg your pardon,” said Jack.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
strokesnounUS /stroʊks/
plural of “stroke” — (sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
stumbledverbUS /ˈstʌmbəld/
past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading “Hallo!” he exclaimed, looking at her in surprise.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I didn’t mean to get in your way.”
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “I didn’t mean to get in your way.”
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading JACK HAS ADVENTURES The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Oh, I beg your pardon,” said Jack.
