used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
alleynounUS /ˈæli/
a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The cobbles were icy, and scarce a moment passed in which he did not have to struggle to maintain his balance.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From time to time he paused, with a hand to his ear, as if listening.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading The cobbles were icy, and scarce a moment passed in which he did not have to struggle to maintain his balance.
Bethisy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
anything that covers or conceals
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CLOAK.
cobbles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cobbles were icy, and scarce a moment passed in which he did not have to struggle to maintain his balance.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading Satisfied that the alley was deserted save for his own presence, he would proceed, hugging the walls.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The cobbles were icy, and scarce a moment passed in which he did not have to struggle to maintain his balance.
districtnounUS /ˈdɪstrɪkt/
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading From time to time he paused, with a hand to his ear, as if listening.
envelopedverbUS /enˈveləpt/
past form of “envelop” — enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Satisfied that the alley was deserted save for his own presence, he would proceed, hugging the walls.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From time to time he paused, with a hand to his ear, as if listening.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
gropedverbUS /ɡroʊpt/
past form of “grope” — feel about uncertainly or blindly
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading From time to time he paused, with a hand to his ear, as if listening.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The cobbles were icy, and scarce a moment passed in which he did not have to struggle to maintain his balance.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From time to time he paused, with a hand to his ear, as if listening.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading From time to time he paused, with a hand to his ear, as if listening.
huggingnounUS /ˈhʌɡɪŋ/
affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)
From this reading Satisfied that the alley was deserted save for his own presence, he would proceed, hugging the walls.
icyadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsi/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading The cobbles were icy, and scarce a moment passed in which he did not have to struggle to maintain his balance.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading From time to time he paused, with a hand to his ear, as if listening.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CLOAK.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading From time to time he paused, with a hand to his ear, as if listening.
maintainverbUS /meɪnˈteɪn/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The cobbles were icy, and scarce a moment passed in which he did not have to struggle to maintain his balance.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CLOAK.
a particular point in time
From this reading The cobbles were icy, and scarce a moment passed in which he did not have to struggle to maintain his balance.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The cobbles were icy, and scarce a moment passed in which he did not have to struggle to maintain his balance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Satisfied that the alley was deserted save for his own presence, he would proceed, hugging the walls.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The cobbles were icy, and scarce a moment passed in which he did not have to struggle to maintain his balance.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading From time to time he paused, with a hand to his ear, as if listening.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Satisfied that the alley was deserted save for his own presence, he would proceed, hugging the walls.
continue talking
From this reading Satisfied that the alley was deserted save for his own presence, he would proceed, hugging the walls.
European strong-scented perennial herb with grey-green bitter-tasting leaves; an irritant similar to poison ivy
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading Satisfied that the alley was deserted save for his own presence, he would proceed, hugging the walls.
except for; apart from
From this reading Satisfied that the alley was deserted save for his own presence, he would proceed, hugging the walls.
only a very short time before
From this reading The cobbles were icy, and scarce a moment passed in which he did not have to struggle to maintain his balance.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading The cobbles were icy, and scarce a moment passed in which he did not have to struggle to maintain his balance.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Satisfied that the alley was deserted save for his own presence, he would proceed, hugging the walls.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAN IN THE CLOAK.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading From time to time he paused, with a hand to his ear, as if listening.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From time to time he paused, with a hand to his ear, as if listening.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Satisfied that the alley was deserted save for his own presence, he would proceed, hugging the walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Satisfied that the alley was deserted save for his own presence, he would proceed, hugging the walls.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The cobbles were icy, and scarce a moment passed in which he did not have to struggle to maintain his balance.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A man enveloped in a handsome grey cloak groped through a dark alley which led into the fashionable district of the Rue de Bethisy.
in the company of; together with
From this reading From time to time he paused, with a hand to his ear, as if listening.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Satisfied that the alley was deserted save for his own presence, he would proceed, hugging the walls.
