used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE UTILITY OF A SEAL.
how long something has existed
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
alarmingadjectiveUS /əˈlɑːrmɪŋ/
frightening because of an awareness of danger
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.
assertsverbUS /əˈsɜːrts/
third-person singular of “assert” — state categorically
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.
curledadjectiveUS /kɜːrld/
(of hair) making curls or having been made to curl
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
demonnounUS /ˈdiːmən/
an evil supernatural being
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
Dubois
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.
enabledverbUS /eˈneɪbəld/
past form of “enable” — render capable or able for some task
From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.
the organ of sight
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
Gaston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
gratifyverbUS /ˈɡrætəfaɪ/
make happy or satisfied
From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was leaning on the table thoughtfully.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
and nothing more
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading He was leaning on the table thoughtfully.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.
lipnounUS /lɪp/
either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE UTILITY OF A SEAL.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was leaning on the table thoughtfully.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
perditionnoun
(Christianity) the abode of Satan and the forces of evil; where sinners suffer eternal punishment
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
plural of “right” — an abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
SEALverbUS /siːl/
make tight; secure against leakage
From this reading THE UTILITY OF A SEAL.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
supped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He was leaning on the table thoughtfully.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE UTILITY OF A SEAL.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading He was leaning on the table thoughtfully.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The lamp threw a light over his face, and enabled Dubois to gratify his curiosity.
UTILITYnounUS /juːˈtɪləti/
a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation
From this reading THE UTILITY OF A SEAL.
victimsnounUS /ˈvɪktəmz/
plural of “victim” — an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
vowedverbUS /vaʊd/
past form of “vow” — make a vow; promise
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was leaning on the table thoughtfully.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Gaston had just supped; for at his age, whether a man be in despair or in love, nature asserts her rights.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
which person or people
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He looked at him with an attention almost alarming: his quick eye darted--his lip curled with a smile, which gave one the idea of a demon smiling at the sight of one of those victims who seem to have vowed their own perdition.
