used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
beckonedverbUS /ˈbekənd/
past form of “beckon” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
bonyadjectiveUS /ˈboʊni/
being very thin
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
the two together, not just one
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
clawnounUS /klɔː/
sharp curved horny process on the toe of a bird or some mammals or reptiles
From this reading The skinny hand thrust through the crook of Commines' arm, and still grasping the crumpled despatch, was the claw of a vulture.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
collarnounUS /ˈkɑːlər/
a band that fits around the neck and is usually folded over
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
Commines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading They made a strange contrast.
crooknounUS /krʊk/
someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
crumpledadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌmpəld/
of metal e.g.
From this reading The skinny hand thrust through the crook of Commines' arm, and still grasping the crumpled despatch, was the claw of a vulture.
denialnounUS /dɪˈnaɪəl/
the act of refusing to comply (as with a request)
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
despatchverb
send away towards a designated goal
From this reading The skinny hand thrust through the crook of Commines' arm, and still grasping the crumpled despatch, was the claw of a vulture.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
furnounUS /fɜːr/
the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
gallerynounUS /ˈɡæləri/
spectators at a golf or tennis match
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
any creature of exceptional size
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
graspingnounUS /ˈɡræspɪŋ/
understanding with difficulty
From this reading The skinny hand thrust through the crook of Commines' arm, and still grasping the crumpled despatch, was the claw of a vulture.
death of a person
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
to a considerable degree
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
imperiouslyadverb
in an imperious manner
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
a unit of instruction
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
listlessadjectiveUS /ˈlɪstləs/
lacking zest or vivacity
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They made a strange contrast.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
OBEDIENCEnounUS /oʊˈbiːdiəns/
the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
preynounUS /preɪ/
a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
resembledverbUS /rɪˈzembəld/
past form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
shrunkenadjectiveUS /ˈʃrʌŋkən/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
skeletonnounUS /ˈskelətən/
something reduced to its minimal form
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
skinnyadjectiveUS /ˈskɪni/
being very thin
From this reading The skinny hand thrust through the crook of Commines' arm, and still grasping the crumpled despatch, was the claw of a vulture.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
not in physical motion
From this reading The skinny hand thrust through the crook of Commines' arm, and still grasping the crumpled despatch, was the claw of a vulture.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading They made a strange contrast.
carry out
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They made a strange contrast.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
push forcefully
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
upturnedadjective
having been turned so that the bottom is no longer the bottom
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
veritableadjectiveUS /ˈverɪtəbəl/
often used as intensifiers
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
vulturenounUS /ˈvʌltʃər/
any of various large diurnal birds of prey having naked heads and weak claws and feeding chiefly on carrion
From this reading The skinny hand thrust through the crook of Commines' arm, and still grasping the crumpled despatch, was the claw of a vulture.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A LESSON IN OBEDIENCE Passing his clenched hand through the crook of Commines' arm, and leaning heavily on the stick in the other hand, Louis turned slowly up the gallery, and for a time both were silent.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With his bony head, his listless face, his lean, long neck thrust out from the fur of his upturned collar, he resembled a giant bird of prey.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The King was shrunken, bowed, and bent, a veritable walking skeleton to whom the grave already imperiously beckoned nor would take long denial.
