used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
anew
From this reading Laurie glanced once at him, then back again.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There it lay, common and ordinary.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Laurie glanced once at him, then back again.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Laurie glanced once at him, then back again.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading There it lay, common and ordinary.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
curtainedadjective
furnished or concealed with curtains or draperies
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
cylindernounUS /ˈsɪləndər/
a solid bounded by a cylindrical surface and two parallel planes (the bases)
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
a person who is older than you are
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
apart from; not including
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
existverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪst/
have an existence, be extant
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Laurie glanced once at him, then back again.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Laurie glanced once at him, then back again.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
impenetrableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
independentadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈpendənt/
free from external control and constraint
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
intentnessnoun
the quality of being intent and concentrated
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There it lay, common and ordinary.
and nothing more
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
Laurie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laurie glanced once at him, then back again.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading There it lay, common and ordinary.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
mediumnounUS /ˈmiːdiəm/
a means or instrumentality for storing or communicating information
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
on one occasion
From this reading Laurie glanced once at him, then back again.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading There it lay, common and ordinary.
ordinary-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
pencilnounUS /ˈpensəl/
a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
radiateverbUS /ˈreɪdiət/
send out rays or waves
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Laurie glanced once at him, then back again.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There it lay, common and ordinary.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
the upper part of anything
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Once and again he glanced round at the ordinary-looking room, the curtained windows, the dull furniture; and the second time he looked back at the pencil he was almost certain that some movement had just taken place with it.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading The medium leaned a little forward in his chair, bending his eyes steadily upon the little wooden cylinder lying, like any other pencil, on the top of the table.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading For at least a minute nothing happened at all, except that from the intentness of the elder man there seemed once more to radiate out that curious air of silence that Laurie was beginning to know so well--that silence that seemed impenetrable to the common sounds of the world and to exist altogether independent of them.
