used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a day or two he might be called to his work.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
ANTOINE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FAUBOURG SAINT ANTOINE.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In a day or two he might be called to his work.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading In a day or two he might be called to his work.
chevaliernounUS /ˌʃevəˈlɪr/
French actor and cabaret singer (1888-1972)
From this reading No more illusion for the chevalier.
a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading In a day or two he might be called to his work.
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
envoynounUS /ˈenvɔɪ/
a diplomat having less authority than an ambassador
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
opinion or judgment
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
FAUBOURGnoun
a New Orleans district lying outside the original city limits; used in combination with the names of various quarters of the city
From this reading THE FAUBOURG SAINT ANTOINE.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading No more illusion for the chevalier.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
Gaston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
greatnessnounUS /ˈɡreɪtnəs/
the property possessed by something or someone of outstanding importance or eminence
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In a day or two he might be called to his work.
Helene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In a day or two he might be called to his work.
illusionnounUS /ˌɪˈluːʒən/
an erroneous mental representation
From this reading No more illusion for the chevalier.
deeply or markedly affected or influenced
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a day or two he might be called to his work.
incoherencenounUS /ˌɪnkoʊˈhɪrəns/
lack of cohesion or clarity or organization
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
likenessesnounUS /ˈlaɪknəsɪz/
plural of “likeness” — similarity in appearance or character or nature between persons or things
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading In a day or two he might be called to his work.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading No more illusion for the chevalier.
not any; not one
From this reading No more illusion for the chevalier.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In a day or two he might be called to his work.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
From this reading THE FAUBOURG SAINT ANTOINE.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FAUBOURG SAINT ANTOINE.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In a day or two he might be called to his work.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In a day or two he might be called to his work.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an air of greatness which surprised him.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading In a day or two he might be called to his work.
