used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
abstractedlyadverb
in an absentminded or preoccupied manner
From this reading Nancy, busy with her own thoughts, sat gazing abstractedly at the dingy wall.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading She always carried it with her in a voluminous pocket as she hated to be idle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She always carried it with her in a voluminous pocket as she hated to be idle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Nancy, busy with her own thoughts, sat gazing abstractedly at the dingy wall.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The tread of the sentries could be distinctly heard as they tramped back and forth before the windows and door.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She always carried it with her in a voluminous pocket as she hated to be idle.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The tread of the sentries could be distinctly heard as they tramped back and forth before the windows and door.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
capenounUS /keɪp/
a strip of land projecting into a body of water
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading She always carried it with her in a voluminous pocket as she hated to be idle.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The tread of the sentries could be distinctly heard as they tramped back and forth before the windows and door.
dingyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪndʒi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading Nancy, busy with her own thoughts, sat gazing abstractedly at the dingy wall.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading The tread of the sentries could be distinctly heard as they tramped back and forth before the windows and door.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The tread of the sentries could be distinctly heard as they tramped back and forth before the windows and door.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading THE FORTUNES OF WAR It was dreary waiting in the stuffy room.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The tread of the sentries could be distinctly heard as they tramped back and forth before the windows and door.
FORTUNESnounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənz/
plural of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading THE FORTUNES OF WAR It was dreary waiting in the stuffy room.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Nancy, busy with her own thoughts, sat gazing abstractedly at the dingy wall.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
hatedadjectiveUS /ˈheɪtəd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading She always carried it with her in a voluminous pocket as she hated to be idle.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The tread of the sentries could be distinctly heard as they tramped back and forth before the windows and door.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
not in action or at work
From this reading She always carried it with her in a voluminous pocket as she hated to be idle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FORTUNES OF WAR It was dreary waiting in the stuffy room.
inevitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbəl/
incapable of being avoided or prevented
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE FORTUNES OF WAR It was dreary waiting in the stuffy room.
knittingnounUS /ˈnɪtɪŋ/
needlework created by interlacing yarn in a series of connected loops using straight eyeless needles or by machine
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
Metoaca
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
NancynounUS /ˈnænsi/
a city in northeastern France in Lorraine
From this reading Nancy, busy with her own thoughts, sat gazing abstractedly at the dingy wall.
not any; not one
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FORTUNES OF WAR It was dreary waiting in the stuffy room.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Nancy, busy with her own thoughts, sat gazing abstractedly at the dingy wall.
Penelope's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading She always carried it with her in a voluminous pocket as she hated to be idle.
recentadjectiveUS /ˈriːsənt/
new
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
resignedverbUS /rɪˈzaɪnd/
past form of “resign” — leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE FORTUNES OF WAR It was dreary waiting in the stuffy room.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Nancy, busy with her own thoughts, sat gazing abstractedly at the dingy wall.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
sentriesnounUS /ˈsentriz/
plural of “sentry” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The tread of the sentries could be distinctly heard as they tramped back and forth before the windows and door.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She always carried it with her in a voluminous pocket as she hated to be idle.
stuffyadjectiveUS /ˈstʌfi/
lacking fresh air
From this reading THE FORTUNES OF WAR It was dreary waiting in the stuffy room.
talma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FORTUNES OF WAR It was dreary waiting in the stuffy room.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The tread of the sentries could be distinctly heard as they tramped back and forth before the windows and door.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Nancy, busy with her own thoughts, sat gazing abstractedly at the dingy wall.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
trampedverbUS /træmpt/
past form of “tramp” — travel on foot, especially on a walking expedition
From this reading The tread of the sentries could be distinctly heard as they tramped back and forth before the windows and door.
treadverbUS /tred/
put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading The tread of the sentries could be distinctly heard as they tramped back and forth before the windows and door.
uninitiatedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪˈnɪʃieɪtɪd/
not initiated; deficient in relevant experience
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
voluminousadjectiveUS /vəˈluːmənəs/
large in volume or bulk
From this reading She always carried it with her in a voluminous pocket as she hated to be idle.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading THE FORTUNES OF WAR It was dreary waiting in the stuffy room.
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 Nancy, busy with her own thoughts, sat gazing abstractedly at the dingy wall.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading THE FORTUNES OF WAR It was dreary waiting in the stuffy room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FORTUNES OF WAR It was dreary waiting in the stuffy room.
webnounUS /web/
an intricate network suggesting something that was formed by weaving or interweaving
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
which person or people
From this reading Miss Metoaca, who had resigned herself to the inevitable after her recent explosion, was busy knitting a talma, a round cape which, like Penelope's web, seemed to the uninitiated to have no beginning and no end.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The tread of the sentries could be distinctly heard as they tramped back and forth before the windows and door.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She always carried it with her in a voluminous pocket as she hated to be idle.
