used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She sat down in one of the chairs, now vacant, which had been drawn up to the study table.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
black-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading She sat down in one of the chairs, now vacant, which had been drawn up to the study table.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She sat down in one of the chairs, now vacant, which had been drawn up to the study table.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading She sat down in one of the chairs, now vacant, which had been drawn up to the study table.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading "In five minutes," he said, "I shall want to talk to you."
set up or found
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Scarcely glancing up, he motioned her to a seat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She sat down in one of the chairs, now vacant, which had been drawn up to the study table.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "In five minutes," he said, "I shall want to talk to you."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
immediately past
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
a room where books are kept
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading "In five minutes," he said, "I shall want to talk to you."
motionedverbUS /ˈmoʊʃənd/
past form of “motion” — show, express or direct through movement
From this reading Scarcely glancing up, he motioned her to a seat.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She sat down in one of the chairs, now vacant, which had been drawn up to the study table.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She sat down in one of the chairs, now vacant, which had been drawn up to the study table.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
pilenounUS /paɪl/
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "In five minutes," he said, "I shall want to talk to you."
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She sat down in one of the chairs, now vacant, which had been drawn up to the study table.
only a very short time before
From this reading Scarcely glancing up, he motioned her to a seat.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading Scarcely glancing up, he motioned her to a seat.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "In five minutes," he said, "I shall want to talk to you."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading She sat down in one of the chairs, now vacant, which had been drawn up to the study table.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading She sat down in one of the chairs, now vacant, which had been drawn up to the study table.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading "In five minutes," he said, "I shall want to talk to you."
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
TREACHERYnounUS /ˈtretʃ.ər.i/
Betrayal of trust; deceptive action or disloyalty against a host or ally.
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Scarcely glancing up, he motioned her to a seat.
vacantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪkənt/
void of intelligence or thought
From this reading She sat down in one of the chairs, now vacant, which had been drawn up to the study table.
Virginia'snounUS /vərˈdʒɪnjəz/
possessive form of “virginia” — a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "In five minutes," he said, "I shall want to talk to you."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was sitting in front of his open desk, a pile of papers before him, and a long, black-looking cigar between his teeth.
at the time that
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She sat down in one of the chairs, now vacant, which had been drawn up to the study table.
in the company of; together with
From this reading TREACHERY Somewhat to Virginia's surprise, when at last she stepped with beating heart into the library, she found her uncle alone.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "In five minutes," he said, "I shall want to talk to you."
