used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
(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 thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
birdlike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
cascadeverbUS /kæˈskeɪd/
rush down in big quantities, like a cascade
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
rid of obstructions
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
four-thousand-year-old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
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 He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
glossyadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɔːsi/
based on pretense; deceptively pleasing
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The operation interested him keenly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading The operation interested him keenly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
keenlyadverbUS /ˈkiːnli/
in a keen or penetrating way
From this reading The operation interested him keenly.
immediately past
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
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 First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
mummynounUS /ˈmʌmi/
informal terms for a mother
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
operationnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/
the state of being in effect or being operative
From this reading The operation interested him keenly.
outcrynounUS /ˈaʊtkraɪ/
a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
protruded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
move by turning over or rotating
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
stifleverbUS /ˈstaɪfəl/
suppress in order to conceal or hide
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The operation interested him keenly.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
thrilledadjectiveUS /θrɪld/
feeling intense pleasurable excitement
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
tressesnounUS /ˈtresɪz/
plural of “tress” — a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
unswathed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
Vansittart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was clear to John Vansittart Smith that this mummy had never been unswathed before.
at the time that
From this reading When, however, the last roll had been removed from the four-thousand-year-old head, it was all that he could do to stifle an outcry of amazement.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He thrilled all over with curiosity, and his birdlike head protruded further and further from behind the door.
workman'snounUS /ˈwɜːrkmənz/
possessive form of “workman” — an employee who performs manual or industrial labor
From this reading First, a cascade of long, black, glossy tresses poured over the workman’s hands and arms.
