used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although old, the watchman was still fresh and vigorous.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The little satchel and the open letter were lying on the watchman’s knees.
marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
BohemiannounUS /boʊˈhiːmiən/
a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
Catalonian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
the appearance conveyed by a person's face
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading For some moments these two men looked at each other in silence, and measured each other with their eyes.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
opinion or judgment
From this reading For some moments these two men looked at each other in silence, and measured each other with their eyes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading Although old, the watchman was still fresh and vigorous.
girdlenounUS /ˈɡɜːrdəl/
an encircling or ringlike structure
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
inspireverbUS /ˌɪnˈspaɪr/
heighten or intensify
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading The little satchel and the open letter were lying on the watchman’s knees.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading The little satchel and the open letter were lying on the watchman’s knees.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little satchel and the open letter were lying on the watchman’s knees.
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 At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading For some moments these two men looked at each other in silence, and measured each other with their eyes.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading The little satchel and the open letter were lying on the watchman’s knees.
measuredadjectiveUS /ˈmeʒərd/
having notes of fixed rhythmic value
From this reading For some moments these two men looked at each other in silence, and measured each other with their eyes.
the force of workers available
From this reading For some moments these two men looked at each other in silence, and measured each other with their eyes.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading For some moments these two men looked at each other in silence, and measured each other with their eyes.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Although old, the watchman was still fresh and vigorous.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The little satchel and the open letter were lying on the watchman’s knees.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The little satchel and the open letter were lying on the watchman’s knees.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading For some moments these two men looked at each other in silence, and measured each other with their eyes.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
satchelnoun
luggage consisting of a small case with a flat bottom and (usually) a shoulder strap
From this reading The little satchel and the open letter were lying on the watchman’s knees.
scabbardnounUS /ˈskæbərd/
a sheath for a sword or dagger or bayonet
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading For some moments these two men looked at each other in silence, and measured each other with their eyes.
sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading For some moments these two men looked at each other in silence, and measured each other with their eyes.
not in physical motion
From this reading Although old, the watchman was still fresh and vigorous.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The little satchel and the open letter were lying on the watchman’s knees.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading For some moments these two men looked at each other in silence, and measured each other with their eyes.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading For some moments these two men looked at each other in silence, and measured each other with their eyes.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For some moments these two men looked at each other in silence, and measured each other with their eyes.
vagabondnounUS /ˈvæɡəbɑːnd/
anything that resembles a vagabond in having no fixed place
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
vigorousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪɡərəs/
characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity
From this reading Although old, the watchman was still fresh and vigorous.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Although old, the watchman was still fresh and vigorous.
watchmannounUS /ˈwɑːtʃmən/
a guard who keeps watch
From this reading Although old, the watchman was still fresh and vigorous.
watchman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little satchel and the open letter were lying on the watchman’s knees.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The little satchel and the open letter were lying on the watchman’s knees.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a movement more rapid than thought, which escaped the observation of the Bohemian, he hid the whole in his girdle.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading At the same time he assured himself that his long Catalonian knife would come out of its scabbard easily, for the sinister countenance of the vagabond did not inspire confidence.
