used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading It was Professor von Pennewitz, and he gave Johannes an examination; but Johannes knew nothing--absolutely nothing.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
in a state of sleep
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
borderedadjectiveUS /ˈbɔːrdərd/
having a border especially of a specified kind; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
bowsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bow” — a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was Professor von Pennewitz, and he gave Johannes an examination; but Johannes knew nothing--absolutely nothing.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
counternounUS /ˈkaʊntər/
table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
deckedverbUS /dekt/
past form of “deck” — be beautiful to look at
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
erminenounUS /ˈɜːrmən/
the expensive white fur of the ermine
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
examinationnounUS /ɪɡˌzæməˈneɪʃən/
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading It was Professor von Pennewitz, and he gave Johannes an examination; but Johannes knew nothing--absolutely nothing.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading He failed.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading Then he was given a stringless violin, and forced to play upon it.
the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading It was Professor von Pennewitz, and he gave Johannes an examination; but Johannes knew nothing--absolutely nothing.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Then he was given a stringless violin, and forced to play upon it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
ten 10s
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Professor von Pennewitz, and he gave Johannes an examination; but Johannes knew nothing--absolutely nothing.
Johannes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
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 It was Professor von Pennewitz, and he gave Johannes an examination; but Johannes knew nothing--absolutely nothing.
leathernounUS /ˈleðər/
an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
monograms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was Professor von Pennewitz, and he gave Johannes an examination; but Johannes knew nothing--absolutely nothing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
and nothing more
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
Pennewitz
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Professor von Pennewitz, and he gave Johannes an examination; but Johannes knew nothing--absolutely nothing.
participate in games or sport
From this reading Then he was given a stringless violin, and forced to play upon it.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading It was Professor von Pennewitz, and he gave Johannes an examination; but Johannes knew nothing--absolutely nothing.
salenounUS /seɪl/
a particular instance of selling
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
selectadjectiveUS /səˈlekt/
of superior grade
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
do one's shopping
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
stringless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he was given a stringless violin, and forced to play upon it.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he was given a stringless violin, and forced to play upon it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
TowardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
trousersnounUS /ˈtraʊzərz/
(usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Then he was given a stringless violin, and forced to play upon it.
varietiesnounUS /vərˈaɪətiz/
plural of “variety” — a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
violinnounUS /vaɪəˈlɪn/
bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bow
From this reading Then he was given a stringless violin, and forced to play upon it.
von
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Professor von Pennewitz, and he gave Johannes an examination; but Johannes knew nothing--absolutely nothing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Professor von Pennewitz, and he gave Johannes an examination; but Johannes knew nothing--absolutely nothing.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading And when Johannes went in to select a pair for the party, an immense man, with a long beard and a high fur cap, stood up behind the counter.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
at the time that
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
in or at the place that
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Toward morning, when he fell asleep for a little while, he dreamed of a big shop where swimming trousers only were for sale in a hundred varieties of color and material, and bordered with fur, cloth, leather, ermine, and velvet, and decked with bows and monograms.
