used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before him were piled a number of open account-books, and books containing matters relating to the business of his ranch.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading He was sitting with his shirt-sleeves rolled up above his elbows, for the day was hot and the air was close and heavy.
account-books
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before him were piled a number of open account-books, and books containing matters relating to the business of his ranch.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading He was sitting with his shirt-sleeves rolled up above his elbows, for the day was hot and the air was close and heavy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before him were piled a number of open account-books, and books containing matters relating to the business of his ranch.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM The master of Lonely Ranch was seated before the table in his unpretentious sitting-room.
blankadjectiveUS /blæŋk/
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading Before him were piled a number of open account-books, and books containing matters relating to the business of his ranch.
the act of breaking something
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM The master of Lonely Ranch was seated before the table in his unpretentious sitting-room.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Before him were piled a number of open account-books, and books containing matters relating to the business of his ranch.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading His chin was resting upon his clenched hands, and his elbows were propped upon the table.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading His chin was resting upon his clenched hands, and his elbows were propped upon the table.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading He was sitting with his shirt-sleeves rolled up above his elbows, for the day was hot and the air was close and heavy.
containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading Before him were piled a number of open account-books, and books containing matters relating to the business of his ranch.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He was sitting with his shirt-sleeves rolled up above his elbows, for the day was hot and the air was close and heavy.
elbowsnounUS /ˈelboʊz/
plural of “elbow” — hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading His chin was resting upon his clenched hands, and his elbows were propped upon the table.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was sitting with his shirt-sleeves rolled up above his elbows, for the day was hot and the air was close and heavy.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading His chin was resting upon his clenched hands, and his elbows were propped upon the table.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading He was sitting with his shirt-sleeves rolled up above his elbows, for the day was hot and the air was close and heavy.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before him were piled a number of open account-books, and books containing matters relating to the business of his ranch.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM The master of Lonely Ranch was seated before the table in his unpretentious sitting-room.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading He was sitting with his shirt-sleeves rolled up above his elbows, for the day was hot and the air was close and heavy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM The master of Lonely Ranch was seated before the table in his unpretentious sitting-room.
introspectiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪntrəˈspektɪv/
given to examining own sensory and perceptual experiences
From this reading He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM The master of Lonely Ranch was seated before the table in his unpretentious sitting-room.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM The master of Lonely Ranch was seated before the table in his unpretentious sitting-room.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Before him were piled a number of open account-books, and books containing matters relating to the business of his ranch.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading Before him were piled a number of open account-books, and books containing matters relating to the business of his ranch.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM The master of Lonely Ranch was seated before the table in his unpretentious sitting-room.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Before him were piled a number of open account-books, and books containing matters relating to the business of his ranch.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading Before him were piled a number of open account-books, and books containing matters relating to the business of his ranch.
proppedverbUS /prɑːpt/
inflected form of “prop” — support by placing against something solid or rigid
From this reading His chin was resting upon his clenched hands, and his elbows were propped upon the table.
RanchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM The master of Lonely Ranch was seated before the table in his unpretentious sitting-room.
relatingverbUS /rɪˈleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “relate” — make a logical or causal connection
From this reading Before him were piled a number of open account-books, and books containing matters relating to the business of his ranch.
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading His chin was resting upon his clenched hands, and his elbows were propped upon the table.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading He was sitting with his shirt-sleeves rolled up above his elbows, for the day was hot and the air was close and heavy.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM The master of Lonely Ranch was seated before the table in his unpretentious sitting-room.
shirt-sleeves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting with his shirt-sleeves rolled up above his elbows, for the day was hot and the air was close and heavy.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading He was sitting with his shirt-sleeves rolled up above his elbows, for the day was hot and the air was close and heavy.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM The master of Lonely Ranch was seated before the table in his unpretentious sitting-room.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM The master of Lonely Ranch was seated before the table in his unpretentious sitting-room.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM The master of Lonely Ranch was seated before the table in his unpretentious sitting-room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM The master of Lonely Ranch was seated before the table in his unpretentious sitting-room.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
thoughtfuladjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtfəl/
having intellectual depth
From this reading He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before him were piled a number of open account-books, and books containing matters relating to the business of his ranch.
unpretentiousadjectiveUS /ˌʌnpriˈtenʃəs/
lacking pretension or affectation
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM The master of Lonely Ranch was seated before the table in his unpretentious sitting-room.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was sitting with his shirt-sleeves rolled up above his elbows, for the day was hot and the air was close and heavy.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading His chin was resting upon his clenched hands, and his elbows were propped upon the table.
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 He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM The master of Lonely Ranch was seated before the table in his unpretentious sitting-room.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Before him were piled a number of open account-books, and books containing matters relating to the business of his ranch.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was not looking at them now, but sat gazing at the blank wall in front of him with thoughtful, introspective eyes.
