used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had done this a dozen times on the way from his office.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Books were always sliding and slipping, clumsy objects to hold.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The doctor shifted his books and magazines to the crook of his elbow.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Looking at this girl, a sense of failure swept over him.
bank-account
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading The doctor shifted his books and magazines to the crook of his elbow.
clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/
lacking grace in movement or posture
From this reading Books were always sliding and slipping, clumsy objects to hold.
countedverbUS /ˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
crooknounUS /krʊk/
someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading The doctor shifted his books and magazines to the crook of his elbow.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading The doctor shifted his books and magazines to the crook of his elbow.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading He had done this a dozen times on the way from his office.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading He had done this a dozen times on the way from his office.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
elbownounUS /ˈelboʊ/
hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading The doctor shifted his books and magazines to the crook of his elbow.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
apart from; not including
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
an act that fails
From this reading Looking at this girl, a sense of failure swept over him.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had done this a dozen times on the way from his office.
a young female
From this reading Looking at this girl, a sense of failure swept over him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had done this a dozen times on the way from his office.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had done this a dozen times on the way from his office.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Looking at this girl, a sense of failure swept over him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The doctor shifted his books and magazines to the crook of his elbow.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Books were always sliding and slipping, clumsy objects to hold.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Looking at this girl, a sense of failure swept over him.
magazinesnounUS /ˈmæɡəziːnz/
plural of “magazine” — a periodic publication containing pictures and stories and articles of interest to those who purchase it or subscribe to it
From this reading The doctor shifted his books and magazines to the crook of his elbow.
materializedverbUS /məˈtɪriəlaɪzd/
past form of “materialize” — come into being; become reality
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading Books were always sliding and slipping, clumsy objects to hold.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The doctor shifted his books and magazines to the crook of his elbow.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading He had done this a dozen times on the way from his office.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had done this a dozen times on the way from his office.
on one occasion
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Looking at this girl, a sense of failure swept over him.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Looking at this girl, a sense of failure swept over him.
shiftedverbUS /ˈʃɪftɪd/
past form of “shift” — make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading The doctor shifted his books and magazines to the crook of his elbow.
slidingadjectiveUS /ˈslaɪdɪŋ/
being a smooth continuous motion
From this reading Books were always sliding and slipping, clumsy objects to hold.
slippingadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpɪŋ/
moving as on a slippery surface
From this reading Books were always sliding and slipping, clumsy objects to hold.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
possessing sweep
From this reading Looking at this girl, a sense of failure swept over him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The doctor shifted his books and magazines to the crook of his elbow.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He had done this a dozen times on the way from his office.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading He had done this a dozen times on the way from his office.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The doctor shifted his books and magazines to the crook of his elbow.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He had done this a dozen times on the way from his office.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Books were always sliding and slipping, clumsy objects to hold.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading He had not been successful as the world counted success; the fat bank-account, the filled waiting room of which he had once dreamed, had never materialized except in the smoke of his evening pipe.
