used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
Bauer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It lay on his bench in a tangled mass and he stooped over it and began to sweep it off into the refuse box.
a long seat for more than one person
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
exhale hard
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading It lay on his bench in a tangled mass and he stooped over it and began to sweep it off into the refuse box.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
represented in words especially with sharpness and detail
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
the act of discovering something
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
electrodesnounUS /ˌɪˈlektroʊdz/
plural of “electrode” — a conductor used to make electrical contact with some part of a circuit
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
franticadjectiveUS /ˈfræntɪk/
excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
hammernounUS /ˈhæmər/
the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
an instinctive motive
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It lay on his bench in a tangled mass and he stooped over it and began to sweep it off into the refuse box.
instantaneousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnstənˈtæniəs/
occurring with no delay
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It lay on his bench in a tangled mass and he stooped over it and began to sweep it off into the refuse box.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It lay on his bench in a tangled mass and he stooped over it and began to sweep it off into the refuse box.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading It lay on his bench in a tangled mass and he stooped over it and began to sweep it off into the refuse box.
mechanismnounUS /ˈmekənɪzəm/
the atomic process that occurs during a chemical reaction
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
metalnounUS /ˈmetəl/
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Bauer had not yet said a word.
obediencenounUS /oʊˈbiːdiəns/
the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It lay on his bench in a tangled mass and he stooped over it and began to sweep it off into the refuse box.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
show unwillingness towards
From this reading It lay on his bench in a tangled mass and he stooped over it and began to sweep it off into the refuse box.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Bauer had not yet said a word.
smashedadjectiveUS /smæʃt/
very drunk
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
snatchedverbUS /snætʃt/
past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
stoopedadjectiveUS /stuːpt/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading It lay on his bench in a tangled mass and he stooped over it and began to sweep it off into the refuse box.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
sweepverbUS /swiːp/
sweep across or over
From this reading It lay on his bench in a tangled mass and he stooped over it and began to sweep it off into the refuse box.
switchedverbUS /swɪtʃt/
past form of “switch” — change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
tangledadjectiveUS /ˈtæŋɡəld/
in a confused mass
From this reading It lay on his bench in a tangled mass and he stooped over it and began to sweep it off into the refuse box.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
unquestioningadjectiveUS /ənˈkwestʃənɪŋ/
not inclined to ask questions
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Before Bauer had taken another step nearer him he had turned, switched off the power from the lamp, and snatched up a hammer from his bench.
WALTER'SnounUS /ˈwɔːltərz/
possessive form of “walter” — German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
wiresnounUS /ˈwaɪərz/
plural of “wire” — ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading With one blow he smashed the electrodes and then, as if made frantic over the act, he struck at the mechanism until it was a heap of bent and twisted wires and metal.
in the company of; together with
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Bauer had not yet said a word.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading WALTER'S mind worked with what he afterward described to himself as an unquestioning obedience to a first impulse, at the centre of which was an instantaneous fear of discovery.
but in spite of that
From this reading Bauer had not yet said a word.
