used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE PLAY Shelton walked away; he had been indulging in a nightmare.
actornounUS /ˈæktər/
a theatrical performer
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading I am a Pharisee, like all the rest who are n't in the pit.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am a Pharisee, like all the rest who are n't in the pit.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I am a Pharisee, like all the rest who are n't in the pit.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading THE PLAY Shelton walked away; he had been indulging in a nightmare.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE PLAY Shelton walked away; he had been indulging in a nightmare.
brought into existence
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
complacentadjectiveUS /kəmˈpleɪsənt/
contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE PLAY Shelton walked away; he had been indulging in a nightmare.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE PLAY Shelton walked away; he had been indulging in a nightmare.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I am a Pharisee, like all the rest who are n't in the pit.
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PLAY Shelton walked away; he had been indulging in a nightmare.
indulgingnounUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒɪŋ/
the act of indulging or gratifying a desire
From this reading THE PLAY Shelton walked away; he had been indulging in a nightmare.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
IrishmannounUS /ˈaɪrɪʃmən/
a man who is a native or inhabitant of Ireland
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My respectability is only luck.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading I am a Pharisee, like all the rest who are n't in the pit.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading My respectability is only luck.
maskverbUS /mæsk/
hide under a false appearance
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My respectability is only luck.
n't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am a Pharisee, like all the rest who are n't in the pit.
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading THE PLAY Shelton walked away; he had been indulging in a nightmare.
not any; not one
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
and nothing more
From this reading My respectability is only luck.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
PhariseenounUS /ˈfɑːrɪsiː/
a self-righteous or sanctimonious person
From this reading I am a Pharisee, like all the rest who are n't in the pit.
pierceverbUS /pɪrs/
cut or make a way through
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
pitnounUS /pɪt/
A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.
From this reading I am a Pharisee, like all the rest who are n't in the pit.
participate in games or sport
From this reading THE PLAY Shelton walked away; he had been indulging in a nightmare.
respectabilitynounUS /riˌspektəˈbɪlɪti/
honorableness by virtue of being respectable and having a good reputation
From this reading My respectability is only luck.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading I am a Pharisee, like all the rest who are n't in the pit.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
Shelton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PLAY Shelton walked away; he had been indulging in a nightmare.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
StaresnounUS /sterz/
plural of “stare” — a fixed look with eyes open wide
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
not in physical motion
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PLAY Shelton walked away; he had been indulging in a nightmare.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
hard to endure
From this reading What should I have become if I'd been born into his kind of life?” and he stared at a stream of people coming from the Stares, trying to pierce the mask of their serious, complacent faces.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading THE PLAY Shelton walked away; he had been indulging in a nightmare.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “That old actor was drunk,” thought he, “and no doubt he was an Irishman; still, there may be truth in what he said.
which person or people
From this reading I am a Pharisee, like all the rest who are n't in the pit.
