used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
apathynounUS /ˈæpəθi/
an absence of emotion or enthusiasm
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading BROTHER!
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
ChevaliernounUS /ˌʃevəˈlɪr/
French actor and cabaret singer (1888-1972)
From this reading Not even the Chevalier could gather a single ray of light from the grim old valet.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
cotnounUS /kɑːt/
a sheath worn to protect a finger
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
donjon-keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
divisible by two
From this reading Not even the Chevalier could gather a single ray of light from the grim old valet.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
assemble or get together
From this reading Not even the Chevalier could gather a single ray of light from the grim old valet.
a long fixed look
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading Not even the Chevalier could gather a single ray of light from the grim old valet.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
insensibilitynoun
a lack of sensibility
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
Jacques
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
Jehan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Not even the Chevalier could gather a single ray of light from the grim old valet.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
not any; not one
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not even the Chevalier could gather a single ray of light from the grim old valet.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Not even the Chevalier could gather a single ray of light from the grim old valet.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
and nothing more
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading Not even the Chevalier could gather a single ray of light from the grim old valet.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
sealedadjectiveUS /siːld/
established irrevocably
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
securelyadverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrli/
in a secure manner; in a manner free from danger
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Not even the Chevalier could gather a single ray of light from the grim old valet.
solveverbUS /sɑːlv/
find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
swervedverbUS /swɜːrvd/
past form of “swerve” — turn sharply; change direction abruptly
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
valetnounUS /væˈleɪ/
a manservant who acts as a personal attendant to his employer
From this reading Not even the Chevalier could gather a single ray of light from the grim old valet.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Only one man could solve the mystery of this apathy, the secret of this insensibility, and his lips were sealed as securely as the door of a donjon-keep: Jehan.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
whitewashedadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪtwɑːʃt/
coated with whitewash
From this reading He spoke to no one, and no sound swerved his dull gaze from the whitewashed ceiling of his little room in the college.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For two weeks Brother Jacques lay silent on his cot; lay with an apathy which alarmed the good brothers of the Order.
