used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With native acuteness it threw out a suggestion, without betraying a confidence.
acutenessnounUS /əˈkjuːtnəs/
a sensitivity that is keen and highly developed
From this reading With native acuteness it threw out a suggestion, without betraying a confidence.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
(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 Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
balconynounUS /ˈbælkəni/
an upper floor projecting from the rear over the main floor in an auditorium
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
betrayingverbUS /bɪˈtreɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “betray” — reveal unintentionally
From this reading With native acuteness it threw out a suggestion, without betraying a confidence.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
blendedadjectiveUS /ˈblendɪd/
combined or mixed together so that the constituent parts are indistinguishable
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading With native acuteness it threw out a suggestion, without betraying a confidence.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading To English ears the reply was curious.
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
decaynounUS /dɪˈkeɪ/
the process of gradually becoming inferior
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading To English ears the reply was curious.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading To English ears the reply was curious.
finaladjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəl/
occurring at or forming an end or termination
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
fleetingadjectiveUS /ˈfliːtɪŋ/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
flourishverbUS /ˈflɜːrɪʃ/
grow vigorously
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
germnounUS /dʒɜːrm/
anything that provides inspiration for later work
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
grandeurnounUS /ɡrænˈduːr/
the quality of being magnificent or splendid or grand
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
gravelnounUS /ˈɡrævəl/
rock fragments and pebbles
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
inclinationnounUS /ˌɪnkləˈneɪʃən/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
leathernounUS /ˈleðər/
an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
Milbanke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading With native acuteness it threw out a suggestion, without betraying a confidence.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading With native acuteness it threw out a suggestion, without betraying a confidence.
pillarsnounUS /ˈpɪlərz/
plural of “pillar” — a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
racialadjectiveUS /ˈreɪʃəl/
of or related to genetically distinguished groups of people
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading To English ears the reply was curious.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
rustyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌsti/
covered with or consisting of rust
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
scrapeverbUS /skreɪp/
scratch repeatedly
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
make square
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
strainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/
an intense or violent exertion
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
an idea that is suggested
From this reading With native acuteness it threw out a suggestion, without betraying a confidence.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To English ears the reply was curious.
in or at that place or location
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading With native acuteness it threw out a suggestion, without betraying a confidence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To English ears the reply was curious.
in the direction of
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
trapnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
unlightedadjective
not set afire or burning
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
utterancesnounUS /ˈʌtərənsɪz/
plural of “utterance” — the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
vaguenessnounUS /ˈveɪɡnɪs/
unclearness by virtue of being poorly expressed or not coherent in meaning
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To English ears the reply was curious.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
whipverbUS /wɪp/
beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
a Caucasian
From this reading An instant after it was spoken, there was a final flourish of the whip, a scrape of wheels on the wet gravel, a straining and creaking of damp leather, and the trap drew up before the big white house.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Milbanke caught a fleeting suggestion of a shabby door with pillars on which rested a square balcony of rusty iron, a number of unlighted windows, a general air of grandeur and decay curiously blended.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading With native acuteness it threw out a suggestion, without betraying a confidence.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet with all its vagueness, all its racial inclination towards high colour, it held the germ of truth that frequently lies in such utterances.
