used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
ablutionsnounUS /əˈbluːʃənz/
plural of “ablution” — the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels
From this reading Drops of water from his morning ablutions still trickled down his chest, and his shirt-sleeves were rolled to above his elbows.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Drops of water from his morning ablutions still trickled down his chest, and his shirt-sleeves were rolled to above his elbows.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Frenchman was pacing nervously up and down.
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
beltnounUS /belt/
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading He wore high boots and riding breeches; his cartridge belt, revolver and coat were lying on a chair.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading He wore high boots and riding breeches; his cartridge belt, revolver and coat were lying on a chair.
the two together, not just one
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
breechesnounUS /ˈbriːtʃɪz/
(used in the plural) trousers ending above the knee
From this reading He wore high boots and riding breeches; his cartridge belt, revolver and coat were lying on a chair.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
Canterac
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
cartridgenounUS /ˈkɑːrtrədʒ/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical casing containing an explosive charge and a bullet; fired from a rifle or handgun
From this reading He wore high boots and riding breeches; his cartridge belt, revolver and coat were lying on a chair.
causingnounUS /ˈkɑːzɪŋ/
the act of causing something to happen
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading He wore high boots and riding breeches; his cartridge belt, revolver and coat were lying on a chair.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading Drops of water from his morning ablutions still trickled down his chest, and his shirt-sleeves were rolled to above his elbows.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading He wore high boots and riding breeches; his cartridge belt, revolver and coat were lying on a chair.
dictatorialadjectiveUS /ˌdɪktəˈtɔːriəl/
of or characteristic of a dictator
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The Frenchman was pacing nervously up and down.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
DropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading Drops of water from his morning ablutions still trickled down his chest, and his shirt-sleeves were rolled to above his elbows.
elbowsnounUS /ˈelboʊz/
plural of “elbow” — hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
From this reading Drops of water from his morning ablutions still trickled down his chest, and his shirt-sleeves were rolled to above his elbows.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
eyebrowsnounUS /ˈaɪbraʊz/
plural of “eyebrow” — the arch of hair above each eye
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
FrenchmannounUS /ˈfrentʃmæn/
a person of French nationality
From this reading The Frenchman was pacing nervously up and down.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Drops of water from his morning ablutions still trickled down his chest, and his shirt-sleeves were rolled to above his elbows.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
harsheradjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrʃər/
comparative of “harsh” — unpleasantly stern
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wore high boots and riding breeches; his cartridge belt, revolver and coat were lying on a chair.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He wore high boots and riding breeches; his cartridge belt, revolver and coat were lying on a chair.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading He wore high boots and riding breeches; his cartridge belt, revolver and coat were lying on a chair.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
Moreno
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Drops of water from his morning ablutions still trickled down his chest, and his shirt-sleeves were rolled to above his elbows.
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading The Frenchman was pacing nervously up and down.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Drops of water from his morning ablutions still trickled down his chest, and his shirt-sleeves were rolled to above his elbows.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He wore high boots and riding breeches; his cartridge belt, revolver and coat were lying on a chair.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
pacingnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/
(music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
From this reading The Frenchman was pacing nervously up and down.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading He wore high boots and riding breeches; his cartridge belt, revolver and coat were lying on a chair.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading He wore high boots and riding breeches; his cartridge belt, revolver and coat were lying on a chair.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading Drops of water from his morning ablutions still trickled down his chest, and his shirt-sleeves were rolled to above his elbows.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
shirt-sleeves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Drops of water from his morning ablutions still trickled down his chest, and his shirt-sleeves were rolled to above his elbows.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
not in physical motion
From this reading Drops of water from his morning ablutions still trickled down his chest, and his shirt-sleeves were rolled to above his elbows.
sunrisenounUS /ˈsʌnraɪz/
the first light of day
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Frenchman was pacing nervously up and down.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading His hard, dictatorial expression became harsher still when he drew his eyebrows together, as though some thought or other were causing him both anger and pain.
trickledverbUS /ˈtrɪkəld/
past form of “trickle” — run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream
From this reading Drops of water from his morning ablutions still trickled down his chest, and his shirt-sleeves were rolled to above his elbows.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The Frenchman was pacing nervously up and down.
urgentadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrdʒənt/
compelling immediate action
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Drops of water from his morning ablutions still trickled down his chest, and his shirt-sleeves were rolled to above his elbows.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He wore high boots and riding breeches; his cartridge belt, revolver and coat were lying on a chair.
at the time that
From this reading It was a little after sunrise when Moreno hastily left his house; Canterac had sent him an urgent message, asking him to call.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading He wore high boots and riding breeches; his cartridge belt, revolver and coat were lying on a chair.
