used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Trascott arose suddenly from his chair and leaned upon the table.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Was there any trouble?
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading Trascott arose suddenly from his chair and leaned upon the table.
attentivenessnounUS /əˈtentɪvnəs/
paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people)
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
Britton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
carvenadjective
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Trascott arose suddenly from his chair and leaned upon the table.
commiserationnoun
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
curate's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Self-defence!" he exclaimed forcibly.
forciblyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrsəbli/
in a forcible manner
From this reading "Self-defence!" he exclaimed forcibly.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Trascott arose suddenly from his chair and leaned upon the table.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
groanedverbUS /ɡroʊnd/
past form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Trascott arose suddenly from his chair and leaned upon the table.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Trascott arose suddenly from his chair and leaned upon the table.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
not in physical motion
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
Self-defencenounUS /ˌselfdɪˈfens/
the act of defending yourself
From this reading "Self-defence!" he exclaimed forcibly.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
sprungverbUS /sprʌŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
statuenounUS /ˈstætʃuː/
a sculpture representing a human or animal
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Trascott arose suddenly from his chair and leaned upon the table.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Trascott arose suddenly from his chair and leaned upon the table.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Trascott arose suddenly from his chair and leaned upon the table.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "Was there any trouble?
a special situation
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
push forcefully
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
Trascott
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Trascott arose suddenly from his chair and leaned upon the table.
a source of difficulty
From this reading "Was there any trouble?
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Trascott arose suddenly from his chair and leaned upon the table.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Was there any trouble?
which person or people
From this reading The lawyer had sprung from his position of attentiveness against the wall to the curate’s side, and he, too, leaned toward Britton, who sat motionless like a carven statue.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "My God, my God," he groaned in intense commiseration, "this is terrible–to have such a thing thrust upon you!"
