used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He told her some of his more poignant experiences at the front, and she gave him a sympathy which he appeared to find most gratifying.
absorbingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading She accepted the invitation, and they drifted into talk, which grew by degrees more and more absorbing.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading She accepted the invitation, and they drifted into talk, which grew by degrees more and more absorbing.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He must not go until she had inquired as to the exact facts, which he seemed to suppose that she knew already.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He told her some of his more poignant experiences at the front, and she gave him a sympathy which he appeared to find most gratifying.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He must not go until she had inquired as to the exact facts, which he seemed to suppose that she knew already.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He told her some of his more poignant experiences at the front, and she gave him a sympathy which he appeared to find most gratifying.
BULL-DROP
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BULL-DROP She went to meet him with the feeling that now—now was her chance.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She accepted the invitation, and they drifted into talk, which grew by degrees more and more absorbing.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
capturedverbUS /ˈkæptʃərd/
past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading THE BULL-DROP She went to meet him with the feeling that now—now was her chance.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
degreesnounUS /dɪˈɡriːz/
plural of “degree” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading She accepted the invitation, and they drifted into talk, which grew by degrees more and more absorbing.
docksnounUS /dɑːks/
plural of “dock” — an enclosure in a court of law where the defendant sits during the trial
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading She accepted the invitation, and they drifted into talk, which grew by degrees more and more absorbing.
an opposing military force
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading He must not go until she had inquired as to the exact facts, which he seemed to suppose that she knew already.
experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/
plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities
From this reading He told her some of his more poignant experiences at the front, and she gave him a sympathy which he appeared to find most gratifying.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading He must not go until she had inquired as to the exact facts, which he seemed to suppose that she knew already.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading THE BULL-DROP She went to meet him with the feeling that now—now was her chance.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He told her some of his more poignant experiences at the front, and she gave him a sympathy which he appeared to find most gratifying.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading He told her some of his more poignant experiences at the front, and she gave him a sympathy which he appeared to find most gratifying.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He told her some of his more poignant experiences at the front, and she gave him a sympathy which he appeared to find most gratifying.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He must not go until she had inquired as to the exact facts, which he seemed to suppose that she knew already.
gratifyingadjectiveUS /ˈɡrætəfaɪɪŋ/
pleasing to the mind or feeling
From this reading He told her some of his more poignant experiences at the front, and she gave him a sympathy which he appeared to find most gratifying.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading She accepted the invitation, and they drifted into talk, which grew by degrees more and more absorbing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He must not go until she had inquired as to the exact facts, which he seemed to suppose that she knew already.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He must not go until she had inquired as to the exact facts, which he seemed to suppose that she knew already.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE BULL-DROP She went to meet him with the feeling that now—now was her chance.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE BULL-DROP She went to meet him with the feeling that now—now was her chance.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He told her some of his more poignant experiences at the front, and she gave him a sympathy which he appeared to find most gratifying.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading He must not go until she had inquired as to the exact facts, which he seemed to suppose that she knew already.
inspectverbUS /ˌɪnˈspekt/
look over carefully
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
inspectionnounUS /ˌɪnˈspekʃən/
a formal or official examination
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She accepted the invitation, and they drifted into talk, which grew by degrees more and more absorbing.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading She accepted the invitation, and they drifted into talk, which grew by degrees more and more absorbing.
inviteverbUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪt/
increase the likelihood of
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He must not go until she had inquired as to the exact facts, which he seemed to suppose that she knew already.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
come together
From this reading THE BULL-DROP She went to meet him with the feeling that now—now was her chance.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She accepted the invitation, and they drifted into talk, which grew by degrees more and more absorbing.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He told her some of his more poignant experiences at the front, and she gave him a sympathy which he appeared to find most gratifying.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He must not go until she had inquired as to the exact facts, which he seemed to suppose that she knew already.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He must not go until she had inquired as to the exact facts, which he seemed to suppose that she knew already.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE BULL-DROP She went to meet him with the feeling that now—now was her chance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
poignantadjectiveUS /ˈpɔɪnjənt/
arousing affect
From this reading He told her some of his more poignant experiences at the front, and she gave him a sympathy which he appeared to find most gratifying.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He must not go until she had inquired as to the exact facts, which he seemed to suppose that she knew already.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE BULL-DROP She went to meet him with the feeling that now—now was her chance.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He told her some of his more poignant experiences at the front, and she gave him a sympathy which he appeared to find most gratifying.
express a supposition
From this reading He must not go until she had inquired as to the exact facts, which he seemed to suppose that she knew already.
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading He told her some of his more poignant experiences at the front, and she gave him a sympathy which he appeared to find most gratifying.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading She accepted the invitation, and they drifted into talk, which grew by degrees more and more absorbing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE BULL-DROP She went to meet him with the feeling that now—now was her chance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BULL-DROP She went to meet him with the feeling that now—now was her chance.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She accepted the invitation, and they drifted into talk, which grew by degrees more and more absorbing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE BULL-DROP She went to meet him with the feeling that now—now was her chance.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He told her some of his more poignant experiences at the front, and she gave him a sympathy which he appeared to find most gratifying.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He must not go until she had inquired as to the exact facts, which he seemed to suppose that she knew already.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BULL-DROP She went to meet him with the feeling that now—now was her chance.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading THE BULL-DROP She went to meet him with the feeling that now—now was her chance.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He must not go until she had inquired as to the exact facts, which he seemed to suppose that she knew already.
WilsonnounUS /ˈwɪlsən/
author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)
From this reading He came to invite herself and Miss Wilson to go down to the docks the following day to inspect one of the great captured enemy ships which was lying there for the inspection of visitors.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE BULL-DROP She went to meet him with the feeling that now—now was her chance.
