used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
(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's all very well," replied the detective; "but why did he hide?
alleynounUS /ˈæli/
a narrow street with walls on both sides
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Why did he climb up that crooked little stairway and stop there; it led nowhere."
any person at all
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
apologeticallyadverbUS /əˌpɑːləˈdʒetɪkliː/
in an apologetic manner
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
for the reason that
From this reading "Why, because it led nowhere, of course," cried Father Brown explosively.
call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
blinkingadjectiveUS /ˈblɪŋkɪŋ/
closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading "Why, because it led nowhere, of course," cried Father Brown explosively.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "That's all very well," replied the detective; "but why did he hide?
a young person of either sex
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
clappedverbUS /klæpt/
inflected form of “clap” — put quickly or forcibly
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading Why did he climb up that crooked little stairway and stop there; it led nowhere."
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "Why, because it led nowhere, of course," cried Father Brown explosively.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Why, because it led nowhere, of course," cried Father Brown explosively.
crookedadjectiveUS /ˈkrʊkəd/
having or marked by bends or angles; not straight or aligned
From this reading Why did he climb up that crooked little stairway and stop there; it led nowhere."
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading "That's all very well," replied the detective; "but why did he hide?
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "That's all very well," replied the detective; "but why did he hide?
endingnounUS /ˈendɪŋ/
the end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme)
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
explosivelyadverbUS /ˌekˈsploʊsɪvli/
suddenly and rapidly
From this reading "Why, because it led nowhere, of course," cried Father Brown explosively.
opinion or judgment
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "Why, because it led nowhere, of course," cried Father Brown explosively.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "That's all very well," replied the detective; "but why did he hide?
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading "That's all very well," replied the detective; "but why did he hide?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Why did he climb up that crooked little stairway and stop there; it led nowhere."
and nothing more
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
apprehended with certainty
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading Why did he climb up that crooked little stairway and stop there; it led nowhere."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Why did he climb up that crooked little stairway and stop there; it led nowhere."
mid-air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
a particular point in time
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
not one, and not any
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
nowherenounUS /ˈnoʊwer/
an insignificant place
From this reading Why did he climb up that crooked little stairway and stop there; it led nowhere."
not divisible by two
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Why, because it led nowhere, of course," cried Father Brown explosively.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
accept an excuse for
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "That's all very well," replied the detective; "but why did he hide?
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading Why did he climb up that crooked little stairway and stop there; it led nowhere."
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading Why did he climb up that crooked little stairway and stop there; it led nowhere."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Why did he climb up that crooked little stairway and stop there; it led nowhere."
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's all very well," replied the detective; "but why did he hide?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "That's all very well," replied the detective; "but why did he hide?
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Why did he climb up that crooked little stairway and stop there; it led nowhere."
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Why did he climb up that crooked little stairway and stop there; it led nowhere."
precisely as stated
From this reading "That's all very well," replied the detective; "but why did he hide?
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "That's all very well," replied the detective; "but why did he hide?
which person or people
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "That's all very well," replied the detective; "but why did he hide?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Anybody who clapped eyes on that blind alley ending in mid-air might have known an artist would want to go there, just as a child would."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He stood blinking for a moment, and then said apologetically: "I beg your pardon; but it seems odd that none of them understand these things.
