used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "This," said Dr. Parkman, who was dusting Gibbon's Rome, "is the sort of thing that is called the backbone of a library."
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
backbonenounUS /ˈbækboʊn/
a central cohesive source of support and stability
From this reading "This," said Dr. Parkman, who was dusting Gibbon's Rome, "is the sort of thing that is called the backbone of a library."
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Some of the students might happen to call."
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "This," said Dr. Parkman, who was dusting Gibbon's Rome, "is the sort of thing that is called the backbone of a library."
cataloguernoun
a librarian who classifies publications according to a categorial system
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
ConsequentlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwəntli/
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading "Consequently," replied Georgia glibly, "we will put it up here on the top shelf.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This," said Dr. Parkman, who was dusting Gibbon's Rome, "is the sort of thing that is called the backbone of a library."
dustingverbUS /ˈdʌstɪŋ/
-ing form of “dust” — remove the dust from
From this reading "This," said Dr. Parkman, who was dusting Gibbon's Rome, "is the sort of thing that is called the backbone of a library."
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
GeorgianounUS /ˈdʒɔːrdʒə/
a state in southeastern United States; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
Gibbon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This," said Dr. Parkman, who was dusting Gibbon's Rome, "is the sort of thing that is called the backbone of a library."
gliblyadverbUS /ˈɡlɪbli/
with superficial plausibility
From this reading "Consequently," replied Georgia glibly, "we will put it up here on the top shelf.
GLORIA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
come to pass
From this reading "Some of the students might happen to call."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "This," said Dr. Parkman, who was dusting Gibbon's Rome, "is the sort of thing that is called the backbone of a library."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Consequently," replied Georgia glibly, "we will put it up here on the top shelf.
and nothing more
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
a room where books are kept
From this reading "This," said Dr. Parkman, who was dusting Gibbon's Rome, "is the sort of thing that is called the backbone of a library."
library'snounUS /ˈlaɪbreriːz/
possessive form of “library” — a room where books are kept
From this reading Nobody wants a library's backbone.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "Some of the students might happen to call."
no person; not anyone
From this reading Nobody wants a library's backbone.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Consequently," replied Georgia glibly, "we will put it up here on the top shelf.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
Parkman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This," said Dr. Parkman, who was dusting Gibbon's Rome, "is the sort of thing that is called the backbone of a library."
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Consequently," replied Georgia glibly, "we will put it up here on the top shelf.
capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire
From this reading "This," said Dr. Parkman, who was dusting Gibbon's Rome, "is the sort of thing that is called the backbone of a library."
a native or inhabitant of Russia
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
self-appointedadjective
designated or chosen by yourself
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "Some of the students might happen to call."
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading "This," said Dr. Parkman, who was dusting Gibbon's Rome, "is the sort of thing that is called the backbone of a library."
studentsnounUS /ˈstuːdənts/
plural of “student” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading "Some of the students might happen to call."
suppressesverbUS /səˈpresɪz/
third-person singular of “suppress” — bring under control by force or authority
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "This," said Dr. Parkman, who was dusting Gibbon's Rome, "is the sort of thing that is called the backbone of a library."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
a special situation
From this reading "This," said Dr. Parkman, who was dusting Gibbon's Rome, "is the sort of thing that is called the backbone of a library."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This," said Dr. Parkman, who was dusting Gibbon's Rome, "is the sort of thing that is called the backbone of a library."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
the upper part of anything
From this reading "Consequently," replied Georgia glibly, "we will put it up here on the top shelf.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Consequently," replied Georgia glibly, "we will put it up here on the top shelf.
VICTIS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading Nobody wants a library's backbone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "This," said Dr. Parkman, who was dusting Gibbon's Rome, "is the sort of thing that is called the backbone of a library."
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Consequently," replied Georgia glibly, "we will put it up here on the top shelf.
We'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
in or at the place that
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
which person or people
From this reading "GLORIA VICTIS" "We'll just put our Russian friend back here in the corner, where the shelf suppresses him," said Georgia, who seemed to have accepted the self-appointed position of head cataloguer.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Consequently," replied Georgia glibly, "we will put it up here on the top shelf.