used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then he finished reading the letter; and having read it through, read it again a second time.
anew
From this reading Then he finished reading the letter; and having read it through, read it again a second time.
ALMA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ALMA MATER The Warden went to the door and turned the key.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He was a free man, and he had obtained his freedom through a circumstance that was pitifully silly, a circumstance almost incredibly sordid and futile.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ALMA MATER The Warden went to the door and turned the key.
a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity
From this reading He was a free man, and he had obtained his freedom through a circumstance that was pitifully silly, a circumstance almost incredibly sordid and futile.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Why, he did not know.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading ALMA MATER The Warden went to the door and turned the key.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading Then he finished reading the letter; and having read it through, read it again a second time.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading He was a free man, and he had obtained his freedom through a circumstance that was pitifully silly, a circumstance almost incredibly sordid and futile.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading He was a free man, and he had obtained his freedom through a circumstance that was pitifully silly, a circumstance almost incredibly sordid and futile.
futileadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtəl/
producing no result or effect
From this reading He was a free man, and he had obtained his freedom through a circumstance that was pitifully silly, a circumstance almost incredibly sordid and futile.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was a free man, and he had obtained his freedom through a circumstance that was pitifully silly, a circumstance almost incredibly sordid and futile.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Then he finished reading the letter; and having read it through, read it again a second time.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Why, he did not know.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was a free man, and he had obtained his freedom through a circumstance that was pitifully silly, a circumstance almost incredibly sordid and futile.
incrediblyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbli/
not easy to believe
From this reading He was a free man, and he had obtained his freedom through a circumstance that was pitifully silly, a circumstance almost incredibly sordid and futile.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading He simply did it instinctively.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He simply did it instinctively.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading ALMA MATER The Warden went to the door and turned the key.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Why, he did not know.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Then he finished reading the letter; and having read it through, read it again a second time.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was a free man, and he had obtained his freedom through a circumstance that was pitifully silly, a circumstance almost incredibly sordid and futile.
MATERnounUS /ˈmɑːtər/
an informal use of the Latin word for mother; sometimes used by British schoolboys or used facetiously
From this reading ALMA MATER The Warden went to the door and turned the key.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Why, he did not know.
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading He was a free man, and he had obtained his freedom through a circumstance that was pitifully silly, a circumstance almost incredibly sordid and futile.
pitifullyadverbUS /ˈpɪtɪfəli/
to a pitiful degree
From this reading He was a free man, and he had obtained his freedom through a circumstance that was pitifully silly, a circumstance almost incredibly sordid and futile.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Then he finished reading the letter; and having read it through, read it again a second time.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Then he finished reading the letter; and having read it through, read it again a second time.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Then he finished reading the letter; and having read it through, read it again a second time.
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading He was a free man, and he had obtained his freedom through a circumstance that was pitifully silly, a circumstance almost incredibly sordid and futile.
and nothing more
From this reading He simply did it instinctively.
sordidadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːrdəd/
morally degraded
From this reading He was a free man, and he had obtained his freedom through a circumstance that was pitifully silly, a circumstance almost incredibly sordid and futile.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was a free man, and he had obtained his freedom through a circumstance that was pitifully silly, a circumstance almost incredibly sordid and futile.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ALMA MATER The Warden went to the door and turned the key.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he finished reading the letter; and having read it through, read it again a second time.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Then he finished reading the letter; and having read it through, read it again a second time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Then he finished reading the letter; and having read it through, read it again a second time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ALMA MATER The Warden went to the door and turned the key.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading ALMA MATER The Warden went to the door and turned the key.
WardennounUS /ˈwɔːr.dən/
The chief official or governor in charge of a prison institution.
From this reading ALMA MATER The Warden went to the door and turned the key.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a free man, and he had obtained his freedom through a circumstance that was pitifully silly, a circumstance almost incredibly sordid and futile.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading ALMA MATER The Warden went to the door and turned the key.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why, he did not know.
