used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
anew
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
any thing at all
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
weapons considered collectively
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
To consume or be consumed by fire.
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
disbeliever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
the act of discovering something
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
effectsnounUS /ɪˈfekts/
property of a personal character that is portable but not used in business
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
start firing a weapon
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
imaginaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒəneri/
not based on fact; existing only in the imagination
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
knucklesnounUS /ˈnʌkəlz/
(used in the plural) a small metal weapon; worn over the knuckles on the back of the hand
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
a particular point in time
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
not one and not the other of two
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
not any; not one
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
on one occasion
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
palmsnounUS /pɑːmz/
plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
shrivelledadjective
(used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
in or at that place or location
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
thumpingnounUS /ˈθʌmpɪŋ/
a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects)
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
up to a particular time
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
in the direction of
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading ‘Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried.’
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But neither of the two people in the room seemed to notice anything.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The Professor had got upon his discovery again, and once there, no man living could check him.
upwardsadverbUS /ˈʌpwərdz/
spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
communicated in words
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The lamp was beginning to burn low; so was the fire.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading He had flung his arms across the table towards his companion, and the hands, with the palms turned upwards, marked every word as he uttered it, thumping the knuckles on the table here, shaking some imaginary disbeliever there—and never for a moment quiet—such old, lean, shrivelled, capable hands!
