used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But there you are--you can’t take a picture of a dead woman and I had a lot of her on that film.
accountingnounUS /əˈkaʊntɪŋ/
a convincing explanation that reveals basic causes
From this reading Shine wasn’t that--there was only one way of accounting for it.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “I’d swear I opened the shutter and I’d swear I closed it after I got my wits back.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He hadn’t opened the shutter and the picture was one of those he had taken of Miss Saunders the day of his arrival.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But there you are--you can’t take a picture of a dead woman and I had a lot of her on that film.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading He hadn’t opened the shutter and the picture was one of those he had taken of Miss Saunders the day of his arrival.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Of course,” he said, staring perplexedly at the carpet.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “I’d swear I opened the shutter and I’d swear I closed it after I got my wits back.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there you are--you can’t take a picture of a dead woman and I had a lot of her on that film.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there you are--you can’t take a picture of a dead woman and I had a lot of her on that film.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading “Of course,” he said, staring perplexedly at the carpet.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading “I’d swear I opened the shutter and I’d swear I closed it after I got my wits back.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading “Of course,” he said, staring perplexedly at the carpet.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He hadn’t opened the shutter and the picture was one of those he had taken of Miss Saunders the day of his arrival.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading But there you are--you can’t take a picture of a dead woman and I had a lot of her on that film.
filmnounUS /fɪlm/
a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement
From this reading But there you are--you can’t take a picture of a dead woman and I had a lot of her on that film.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Shine wasn’t that--there was only one way of accounting for it.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “I’d swear I opened the shutter and I’d swear I closed it after I got my wits back.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He hadn’t opened the shutter and the picture was one of those he had taken of Miss Saunders the day of his arrival.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He hadn’t opened the shutter and the picture was one of those he had taken of Miss Saunders the day of his arrival.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He hadn’t opened the shutter and the picture was one of those he had taken of Miss Saunders the day of his arrival.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But there you are--you can’t take a picture of a dead woman and I had a lot of her on that film.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He hadn’t opened the shutter and the picture was one of those he had taken of Miss Saunders the day of his arrival.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I’d swear I opened the shutter and I’d swear I closed it after I got my wits back.
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’d swear I opened the shutter and I’d swear I closed it after I got my wits back.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Shine wasn’t that--there was only one way of accounting for it.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading But there you are--you can’t take a picture of a dead woman and I had a lot of her on that film.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading He hadn’t opened the shutter and the picture was one of those he had taken of Miss Saunders the day of his arrival.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I’d swear I opened the shutter and I’d swear I closed it after I got my wits back.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Shine wasn’t that--there was only one way of accounting for it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But there you are--you can’t take a picture of a dead woman and I had a lot of her on that film.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Shine wasn’t that--there was only one way of accounting for it.
and nothing more
From this reading Shine wasn’t that--there was only one way of accounting for it.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He hadn’t opened the shutter and the picture was one of those he had taken of Miss Saunders the day of his arrival.
perplexedlyadverb
in a perplexed manner
From this reading “Of course,” he said, staring perplexedly at the carpet.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading He hadn’t opened the shutter and the picture was one of those he had taken of Miss Saunders the day of his arrival.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Of course,” he said, staring perplexedly at the carpet.
Saunders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He hadn’t opened the shutter and the picture was one of those he had taken of Miss Saunders the day of his arrival.
ShineverbUS /ʃaɪn/
be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading Shine wasn’t that--there was only one way of accounting for it.
shutternounUS /ˈʃʌtər/
a mechanical device on a camera that opens and closes to control the time of a photographic exposure
From this reading He hadn’t opened the shutter and the picture was one of those he had taken of Miss Saunders the day of his arrival.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading “Of course,” he said, staring perplexedly at the carpet.
utter obscenities or profanities
From this reading “I’d swear I opened the shutter and I’d swear I closed it after I got my wits back.
carry out
From this reading But there you are--you can’t take a picture of a dead woman and I had a lot of her on that film.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading He hadn’t opened the shutter and the picture was one of those he had taken of Miss Saunders the day of his arrival.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Shine wasn’t that--there was only one way of accounting for it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He hadn’t opened the shutter and the picture was one of those he had taken of Miss Saunders the day of his arrival.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Shine wasn’t that--there was only one way of accounting for it.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He hadn’t opened the shutter and the picture was one of those he had taken of Miss Saunders the day of his arrival.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Shine wasn’t that--there was only one way of accounting for it.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shine wasn’t that--there was only one way of accounting for it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Shine wasn’t that--there was only one way of accounting for it.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading “I’d swear I opened the shutter and I’d swear I closed it after I got my wits back.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading But there you are--you can’t take a picture of a dead woman and I had a lot of her on that film.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But there you are--you can’t take a picture of a dead woman and I had a lot of her on that film.
