used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading That was all, spoken in his customary drawl without a hint of anger or reproach.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading That was all, spoken in his customary drawl without a hint of anger or reproach.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading He spoke at length: "You had better shut the window, the rain is coming in."
confined by bonds
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
Caryl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading He spoke at length: "You had better shut the window, the rain is coming in."
customaryadjectiveUS /ˈkʌstəmeri/
in accordance with convention or custom
From this reading That was all, spoken in his customary drawl without a hint of anger or reproach.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He paused at the open window and looked in on Doris without opening the door.
DorisnounUS /ˈdɔːrəs/
(Greek mythology) wife of Nereus and mother of the Nereids
From this reading He paused at the open window and looked in on Doris without opening the door.
drawlnounUS /drɔːl/
a slow speech pattern with prolonged vowels
From this reading That was all, spoken in his customary drawl without a hint of anger or reproach.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The sound of the rain pattering heavily upon his shoulders filled in a silence that she found terrible.
set up or found
From this reading The sound of the rain pattering heavily upon his shoulders filled in a silence that she found terrible.
grimnessnounUS /ˈɡrɪmnəs/
the quality of being ghastly
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He paused at the open window and looked in on Doris without opening the door.
to a considerable degree
From this reading The sound of the rain pattering heavily upon his shoulders filled in a silence that she found terrible.
an indirect suggestion
From this reading That was all, spoken in his customary drawl without a hint of anger or reproach.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He spoke at length: "You had better shut the window, the rain is coming in."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
knucklesnounUS /ˈnʌkəlz/
(used in the plural) a small metal weapon; worn over the knuckles on the back of the hand
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading He spoke at length: "You had better shut the window, the rain is coming in."
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He paused at the open window and looked in on Doris without opening the door.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He paused at the open window and looked in on Doris without opening the door.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He paused at the open window and looked in on Doris without opening the door.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading He paused at the open window and looked in on Doris without opening the door.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading That was all, spoken in his customary drawl without a hint of anger or reproach.
pattering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sound of the rain pattering heavily upon his shoulders filled in a silence that she found terrible.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading He paused at the open window and looked in on Doris without opening the door.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The sound of the rain pattering heavily upon his shoulders filled in a silence that she found terrible.
reproachnounUS /riˈproʊtʃ/
a mild rebuke or criticism
From this reading That was all, spoken in his customary drawl without a hint of anger or reproach.
precisely, exactly
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sound of the rain pattering heavily upon his shoulders filled in a silence that she found terrible.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading The sound of the rain pattering heavily upon his shoulders filled in a silence that she found terrible.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading He spoke at length: "You had better shut the window, the rain is coming in."
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The sound of the rain pattering heavily upon his shoulders filled in a silence that she found terrible.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The sound of the rain pattering heavily upon his shoulders filled in a silence that she found terrible.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading He spoke at length: "You had better shut the window, the rain is coming in."
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading That was all, spoken in his customary drawl without a hint of anger or reproach.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The sound of the rain pattering heavily upon his shoulders filled in a silence that she found terrible.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The sound of the rain pattering heavily upon his shoulders filled in a silence that she found terrible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
at the time that
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading He paused at the open window and looked in on Doris without opening the door.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He paused at the open window and looked in on Doris without opening the door.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading THE MAN AT THE WHEEL When Caryl came back to the motor his handkerchief was bound about the knuckles of his right hand, and his face wore a faint smile that had in it more of grimness than humour.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He spoke at length: "You had better shut the window, the rain is coming in."
