used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A man had come to take the automobile, and the colonel paused to call attention to a needed adjustment of the motor.
accountedverbUS /əˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “account” — be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition, supply, or disposal of something
From this reading "I have accounted for you at last," he said, prolonging the greeting hand-clasp to the ultimate limit.
adjustmentnounUS /əˈdʒʌstmənt/
making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
From this reading A man had come to take the automobile, and the colonel paused to call attention to a needed adjustment of the motor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I have accounted for you at last," he said, prolonging the greeting hand-clasp to the ultimate limit.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading A man had come to take the automobile, and the colonel paused to call attention to a needed adjustment of the motor.
automobilenounUS /ˈɔːtəmoʊbiːl/
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading A man had come to take the automobile, and the colonel paused to call attention to a needed adjustment of the motor.
Ballard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ballard made use of the isolated moment.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A man had come to take the automobile, and the colonel paused to call attention to a needed adjustment of the motor.
carpentrynounUS /ˈkɑːrpəntri/
the craft of a carpenter: making things out of wood
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
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 A man had come to take the automobile, and the colonel paused to call attention to a needed adjustment of the motor.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A man had come to take the automobile, and the colonel paused to call attention to a needed adjustment of the motor.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
cunninglyadverb
in an attractive manner
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I have accounted for you at last," he said, prolonging the greeting hand-clasp to the ultimate limit.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading "I have accounted for you at last," he said, prolonging the greeting hand-clasp to the ultimate limit.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
hand-clasp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I have accounted for you at last," he said, prolonging the greeting hand-clasp to the ultimate limit.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I have accounted for you at last," he said, prolonging the greeting hand-clasp to the ultimate limit.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I have accounted for you at last," he said, prolonging the greeting hand-clasp to the ultimate limit.
hewnadjectiveUS /hjuːn/
cut or shaped with hard blows of a heavy cutting instrument like an ax or chisel
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I have accounted for you at last," he said, prolonging the greeting hand-clasp to the ultimate limit.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
isolatedadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsəleɪtəd/
not close together in time
From this reading Ballard made use of the isolated moment.
immediately past
From this reading "I have accounted for you at last," he said, prolonging the greeting hand-clasp to the ultimate limit.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
limitnounUS /ˈlɪmət/
the greatest possible degree of something
From this reading "I have accounted for you at last," he said, prolonging the greeting hand-clasp to the ultimate limit.
logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Ballard made use of the isolated moment.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A man had come to take the automobile, and the colonel paused to call attention to a needed adjustment of the motor.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
matchedadjectiveUS /mætʃt/
provided with a worthy adversary or competitor
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
a particular point in time
From this reading Ballard made use of the isolated moment.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading A man had come to take the automobile, and the colonel paused to call attention to a needed adjustment of the motor.
a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading A man had come to take the automobile, and the colonel paused to call attention to a needed adjustment of the motor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading A man had come to take the automobile, and the colonel paused to call attention to a needed adjustment of the motor.
pendants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
pillarsnounUS /ˈpɪlərz/
plural of “pillar” — a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
porticonounUS /ˈpɔːrtəkoʊ/
a porch or entrance to a building consisting of a covered and often columned area
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
prolongingverbUS /proʊˈlɔːŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “prolong” — lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer
From this reading "I have accounted for you at last," he said, prolonging the greeting hand-clasp to the ultimate limit.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I have accounted for you at last," he said, prolonging the greeting hand-clasp to the ultimate limit.
shadedadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪdɪd/
protected from heat and light with shade or shadow
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
softenedadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːfənd/
toned down
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
having a supporting base
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
carry out
From this reading A man had come to take the automobile, and the colonel paused to call attention to a needed adjustment of the motor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
tree-trunks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading In the softened light of the shaded electric pendants, the massive pillars of the portico appeared as single trees standing as they had grown in the mountain forest.
ultimateadjectiveUS /ˈʌltəmət/
furthest or highest in degree or order; utmost or extreme
From this reading "I have accounted for you at last," he said, prolonging the greeting hand-clasp to the ultimate limit.
UnderfootadverbUS /ˌʌndərˈfʊt/
under the feet
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
the act of using
From this reading Ballard made use of the isolated moment.
plural of “wall” — 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 Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Underfoot the floor was of hewn tree-trunks; but the house walls, like the pillars, were of logs in the rough, cunningly matched and fitted to conceal the carpentry.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I have accounted for you at last," he said, prolonging the greeting hand-clasp to the ultimate limit.
