used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading He stared at her curiously for a few seconds, then searched anxiously along every other exit of the train.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNFORTUNATE ARRIVAL.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading He stared at her curiously for a few seconds, then searched anxiously along every other exit of the train.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading AN UNFORTUNATE ARRIVAL.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He stared at her curiously for a few seconds, then searched anxiously along every other exit of the train.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
clothing in general
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
ColternounUS /ˈkoʊltər/
a sharp steel wedge that precedes the plow and cuts vertically through the soil
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading He stared at her curiously for a few seconds, then searched anxiously along every other exit of the train.
dismounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He stared at her curiously for a few seconds, then searched anxiously along every other exit of the train.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Evidently he was not.
exitnounUS /ˈeɡzɪt/
an opening that permits escape or release
From this reading He stared at her curiously for a few seconds, then searched anxiously along every other exit of the train.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He stared at her curiously for a few seconds, then searched anxiously along every other exit of the train.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
a form of address for a man
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
not any; not one
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
oddlyadverbUS /ˈɑːdli/
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He stared at her curiously for a few seconds, then searched anxiously along every other exit of the train.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
searchedverbUS /sɜːrtʃt/
past form of “search” — try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading He stared at her curiously for a few seconds, then searched anxiously along every other exit of the train.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading He stared at her curiously for a few seconds, then searched anxiously along every other exit of the train.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading He stared at her curiously for a few seconds, then searched anxiously along every other exit of the train.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He stared at her curiously for a few seconds, then searched anxiously along every other exit of the train.
in or at that place or location
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
create by training and teaching
From this reading He stared at her curiously for a few seconds, then searched anxiously along every other exit of the train.
not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune
From this reading AN UNFORTUNATE ARRIVAL.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
at the time that
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
which person or people
From this reading THERE was no one on the platform when Ruth dismounted, but a tall man, who was not looking for her.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading He was oddly handsome in spite of his queer Western clothes, and Ruth wished for an instant that he might be Mr. Colter.
