used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
arrayedadjectiveUS /ərˈeɪd/
in ceremonial attire and paraphernalia
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Why should he be disturbed?
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading He was contemplating with a pair of black, expressionless eyes the shadows growing in the crevices of the far side of the gorge.
bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading The occasional whistle of a bullet passing harmlessly overhead failed to disturb him in the smallest degree.
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
contemplatingverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading He was contemplating with a pair of black, expressionless eyes the shadows growing in the crevices of the far side of the gorge.
crevicesnounUS /ˈkrevəsɪz/
plural of “crevice” — a long narrow depression in a surface
From this reading He was contemplating with a pair of black, expressionless eyes the shadows growing in the crevices of the far side of the gorge.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading The occasional whistle of a bullet passing harmlessly overhead failed to disturb him in the smallest degree.
disreputableadjectiveUS /dɪsˈrepjətəbəl/
lacking respectability in character or behavior or appearance
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
disturbverbUS /dɪˈstɜːrb/
move deeply
From this reading The occasional whistle of a bullet passing harmlessly overhead failed to disturb him in the smallest degree.
having the place or position changed
From this reading Why should he be disturbed?
door-sill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was seated on the earthen door-sill of the hut where Kars was sleeping.
earthenadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrθən/
made of earth (or baked clay)
From this reading He was seated on the earthen door-sill of the hut where Kars was sleeping.
expressionlessadjectiveUS /ɪkspreʃənlɪs/
deliberately impassive in manner
From this reading He was contemplating with a pair of black, expressionless eyes the shadows growing in the crevices of the far side of the gorge.
opinion or judgment
From this reading He was contemplating with a pair of black, expressionless eyes the shadows growing in the crevices of the far side of the gorge.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading The occasional whistle of a bullet passing harmlessly overhead failed to disturb him in the smallest degree.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading He was contemplating with a pair of black, expressionless eyes the shadows growing in the crevices of the far side of the gorge.
plural of “god” — 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 THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
gorgeverbUS /ɡɔːrdʒ/
overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself
From this reading He was contemplating with a pair of black, expressionless eyes the shadows growing in the crevices of the far side of the gorge.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading He was contemplating with a pair of black, expressionless eyes the shadows growing in the crevices of the far side of the gorge.
harmlesslyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrmləsli/
in a harmless manner
From this reading The occasional whistle of a bullet passing harmlessly overhead failed to disturb him in the smallest degree.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The occasional whistle of a bullet passing harmlessly overhead failed to disturb him in the smallest degree.
temporary military shelter
From this reading He was seated on the earthen door-sill of the hut where Kars was sleeping.
an iconic mental representation
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
Kars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was seated on the earthen door-sill of the hut where Kars was sleeping.
LAPverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
mahoganynounUS /məˈhɑːɡəni/
wood of any of various mahogany trees; much used for cabinetwork and furniture
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading The occasional whistle of a bullet passing harmlessly overhead failed to disturb him in the smallest degree.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was seated on the earthen door-sill of the hut where Kars was sleeping.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading The occasional whistle of a bullet passing harmlessly overhead failed to disturb him in the smallest degree.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading He was contemplating with a pair of black, expressionless eyes the shadows growing in the crevices of the far side of the gorge.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading The occasional whistle of a bullet passing harmlessly overhead failed to disturb him in the smallest degree.
rag-picker's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading He was seated on the earthen door-sill of the hut where Kars was sleeping.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading He was contemplating with a pair of black, expressionless eyes the shadows growing in the crevices of the far side of the gorge.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Why should he be disturbed?
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading He was contemplating with a pair of black, expressionless eyes the shadows growing in the crevices of the far side of the gorge.
sittings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
the state of being asleep
From this reading He was seated on the earthen door-sill of the hut where Kars was sleeping.
smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/
superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The occasional whistle of a bullet passing harmlessly overhead failed to disturb him in the smallest degree.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LAP OF THE GODS He looked like a disreputable image carved in mahogany, and arrayed in the sittings of a rag-picker's store.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The occasional whistle of a bullet passing harmlessly overhead failed to disturb him in the smallest degree.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was seated on the earthen door-sill of the hut where Kars was sleeping.
in or at the place that
From this reading He was seated on the earthen door-sill of the hut where Kars was sleeping.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading The occasional whistle of a bullet passing harmlessly overhead failed to disturb him in the smallest degree.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why should he be disturbed?
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was contemplating with a pair of black, expressionless eyes the shadows growing in the crevices of the far side of the gorge.
