used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
amiablyadverbUS /ˈeɪmiəbli/
in an affable manner
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Five minutes later Lucy was talking to Colonel and Mrs. Hankin, with genial unconcern.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading Upstairs, in Mrs. Tailleur's bedroom, Jane Lucy was talking to Mrs. Tailleur.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
chivalrynounUS /ˈʃɪvəlri/
courtesy towards women
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading Five minutes later Lucy was talking to Colonel and Mrs. Hankin, with genial unconcern.
conversedverbUS /kənˈvɜːrst/
past form of “converse” — carry on a conversation
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
a legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
disastrousadjectiveUS /dɪˈzæstrəs/
(of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Five minutes later Lucy was talking to Colonel and Mrs. Hankin, with genial unconcern.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
genialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒiːnjəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading Five minutes later Lucy was talking to Colonel and Mrs. Hankin, with genial unconcern.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
Hankin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five minutes later Lucy was talking to Colonel and Mrs. Hankin, with genial unconcern.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
incomparableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkɑːmpərəbəl/
such that comparison is impossible; unsuitable for comparison or lacking features that can be compared
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
innocencenounUS /ˈɪnəsəns/
the quality of innocent naivete
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upstairs, in Mrs. Tailleur's bedroom, Jane Lucy was talking to Mrs. Tailleur.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
lashverbUS /læʃ/
beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Five minutes later Lucy was talking to Colonel and Mrs. Hankin, with genial unconcern.
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
From this reading Five minutes later Lucy was talking to Colonel and Mrs. Hankin, with genial unconcern.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
and nothing more
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Five minutes later Lucy was talking to Colonel and Mrs. Hankin, with genial unconcern.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Five minutes later Lucy was talking to Colonel and Mrs. Hankin, with genial unconcern.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
and nothing more
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
a light shade of red
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
express in words
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
scourgedverbUS /skɜːrdʒd/
past form of “scourge” — punish severely; excoriate
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
Tailleur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
Tailleur's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upstairs, in Mrs. Tailleur's bedroom, Jane Lucy was talking to Mrs. Tailleur.
carry out
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Five minutes later Lucy was talking to Colonel and Mrs. Hankin, with genial unconcern.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
throttleverbUS /ˈθrɑːtəl/
place limits on (extent or amount or access)
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Five minutes later Lucy was talking to Colonel and Mrs. Hankin, with genial unconcern.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
tonguesnounUS /tʌŋz/
plural of “tongue” — a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
unconcernnounUS /ˌʌnkənˈsɜːrn/
the trait of remaining calm and seeming not to care; a casual lack of concern
From this reading Five minutes later Lucy was talking to Colonel and Mrs. Hankin, with genial unconcern.
on a floor above
From this reading Upstairs, in Mrs. Tailleur's bedroom, Jane Lucy was talking to Mrs. Tailleur.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Five minutes later Lucy was talking to Colonel and Mrs. Hankin, with genial unconcern.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They never knew that he knew what they had been saying, or how their tongues had scourged Mrs. Tailleur out into the lash of the rain.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading The Colonel merely felt himself in the presence of an incomparable innocence; but whether it was Lucy who was innocent, or Mrs. Tailleur, or the two of them together, he really could not say.
which person or people
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Five minutes later Lucy was talking to Colonel and Mrs. Hankin, with genial unconcern.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading They never knew that the young man who conversed with them so amiably was longing to take the Colonel by his pink throat and throttle him, nor that it was only a higher chivalry that held him from this disastrous deed.
