used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
react verbally
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE TRUTH When Burke presented himself at the door of the main bungalow he found it half-open.
a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
bungalownounUS /ˈbʌŋɡəloʊ/
a small house with a single story
From this reading THE TRUTH When Burke presented himself at the door of the main bungalow he found it half-open.
BurkenounUS /bɜːrk/
British statesman famous for his oratory; pleaded the cause of the American colonists in British Parliament and defended the parliamentary system (1729-1797)
From this reading THE TRUTH When Burke presented himself at the door of the main bungalow he found it half-open.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading A slightly deeper colour suffused her face.
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading A slightly deeper colour suffused her face.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE TRUTH When Burke presented himself at the door of the main bungalow he found it half-open.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
to come or go into
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Her light eyes surveyed him in momentary surprise, and then fell straight upon her work.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A slightly deeper colour suffused her face.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Her light eyes surveyed him in momentary surprise, and then fell straight upon her work.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
flannelnounUS /ˈflænəl/
a soft light woolen fabric; used for clothing
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
set up or found
From this reading THE TRUTH When Burke presented himself at the door of the main bungalow he found it half-open.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
half-open
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TRUTH When Burke presented himself at the door of the main bungalow he found it half-open.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE TRUTH When Burke presented himself at the door of the main bungalow he found it half-open.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading THE TRUTH When Burke presented himself at the door of the main bungalow he found it half-open.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE TRUTH When Burke presented himself at the door of the main bungalow he found it half-open.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Her light eyes surveyed him in momentary surprise, and then fell straight upon her work.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
most important element
From this reading THE TRUTH When Burke presented himself at the door of the main bungalow he found it half-open.
Merston's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
momentaryadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊmənteri/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading Her light eyes surveyed him in momentary surprise, and then fell straight upon her work.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE TRUTH When Burke presented himself at the door of the main bungalow he found it half-open.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
poisedadjectiveUS /pɔɪzd/
marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading THE TRUTH When Burke presented himself at the door of the main bungalow he found it half-open.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
sewing-machine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading A slightly deeper colour suffused her face.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Her light eyes surveyed him in momentary surprise, and then fell straight upon her work.
suffusedverbUS /səˈfjuːzd/
past form of “suffuse” — cause to spread or flush or flood through, over, or across
From this reading A slightly deeper colour suffused her face.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Her light eyes surveyed him in momentary surprise, and then fell straight upon her work.
surveyedverbUS /sərˈveɪd/
past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way
From this reading Her light eyes surveyed him in momentary surprise, and then fell straight upon her work.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TRUTH When Burke presented himself at the door of the main bungalow he found it half-open.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Her light eyes surveyed him in momentary surprise, and then fell straight upon her work.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading THE TRUTH When Burke presented himself at the door of the main bungalow he found it half-open.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Her light eyes surveyed him in momentary surprise, and then fell straight upon her work.
vigorouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪɡərəsli/
with vigor; in a vigorous manner
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
at the time that
From this reading THE TRUTH When Burke presented himself at the door of the main bungalow he found it half-open.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
whirrverb
make a soft swishing sound
From this reading The whirr of a sewing-machine came forth to him, but it paused in answer to his knock, and Mrs. Merston's voice bade him enter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading He went in to find her seated at a plain wooden table with grey flannel spread around her, her hand poised on the wheel of her machine, which she drove round vigorously as he entered.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Her light eyes surveyed him in momentary surprise, and then fell straight upon her work.
