used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I sat down opposite him and waited, shading my face with my hand and trying to fix my thoughts on what he was about to say.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “Listen, Clayton,” he said, after a moment or two.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading “I went to see what I could find about Miss Van Cleef this afternoon, because you were so vitally interested.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I sat down opposite him and waited, shading my face with my hand and trying to fix my thoughts on what he was about to say.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
for the reason that
From this reading “I went to see what I could find about Miss Van Cleef this afternoon, because you were so vitally interested.
breaking-point
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
Clayton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Listen, Clayton,” he said, after a moment or two.
Cleef
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I went to see what I could find about Miss Van Cleef this afternoon, because you were so vitally interested.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “I went to see what I could find about Miss Van Cleef this afternoon, because you were so vitally interested.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It was hard to do even that.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
divisible by two
From this reading It was hard to do even that.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
FinaladjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəl/
occurring at or forming an end or termination
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading “I went to see what I could find about Miss Van Cleef this afternoon, because you were so vitally interested.
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading I sat down opposite him and waited, shading my face with my hand and trying to fix my thoughts on what he was about to say.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
fumbledverbUS /ˈfʌmbəld/
past form of “fumble” — feel about uncertainly or blindly
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading I sat down opposite him and waited, shading my face with my hand and trying to fix my thoughts on what he was about to say.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It was hard to do even that.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I sat down opposite him and waited, shading my face with my hand and trying to fix my thoughts on what he was about to say.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading “I went to see what I could find about Miss Van Cleef this afternoon, because you were so vitally interested.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was hard to do even that.
conformity or harmony
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
hear with intention
From this reading “Listen, Clayton,” he said, after a moment or two.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading “I went to see what I could find about Miss Van Cleef this afternoon, because you were so vitally interested.
a particular point in time
From this reading “Listen, Clayton,” he said, after a moment or two.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I sat down opposite him and waited, shading my face with my hand and trying to fix my thoughts on what he was about to say.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading I sat down opposite him and waited, shading my face with my hand and trying to fix my thoughts on what he was about to say.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “Listen, Clayton,” he said, after a moment or two.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Listen, Clayton,” he said, after a moment or two.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading I sat down opposite him and waited, shading my face with my hand and trying to fix my thoughts on what he was about to say.
express in words
From this reading I sat down opposite him and waited, shading my face with my hand and trying to fix my thoughts on what he was about to say.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
shadingnounUS /ˈʃeɪdɪŋ/
graded markings that indicate light or shaded areas in a drawing or painting
From this reading I sat down opposite him and waited, shading my face with my hand and trying to fix my thoughts on what he was about to say.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I went to see what I could find about Miss Van Cleef this afternoon, because you were so vitally interested.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I sat down opposite him and waited, shading my face with my hand and trying to fix my thoughts on what he was about to say.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
hard to endure
From this reading I sat down opposite him and waited, shading my face with my hand and trying to fix my thoughts on what he was about to say.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading “Listen, Clayton,” he said, after a moment or two.
any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
From this reading “I went to see what I could find about Miss Van Cleef this afternoon, because you were so vitally interested.
vitallyadverbUS /ˈvaɪtəli/
to a vital degree
From this reading “I went to see what I could find about Miss Van Cleef this afternoon, because you were so vitally interested.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading I sat down opposite him and waited, shading my face with my hand and trying to fix my thoughts on what he was about to say.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “I went to see what I could find about Miss Van Cleef this afternoon, because you were so vitally interested.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “I went to see what I could find about Miss Van Cleef this afternoon, because you were so vitally interested.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I sat down opposite him and waited, shading my face with my hand and trying to fix my thoughts on what he was about to say.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I sat down opposite him and waited, shading my face with my hand and trying to fix my thoughts on what he was about to say.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The Final Attempt I fumbled for a cigar, keeping my head down so that he would not see my face, for I was pretty close to the breaking-point.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I went to see what I could find about Miss Van Cleef this afternoon, because you were so vitally interested.
