used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
(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 To Tollman's eyes familiar with content and superscription, it was all glaringly conspicuous.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To Tollman's eyes familiar with content and superscription, it was all glaringly conspicuous.
beadsnounUS /biːdz/
several beads threaded together on a string
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading But the Virginian was not yet broken to the habit of being a cripple.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading But the Virginian was not yet broken to the habit of being a cripple.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
conspicuousadjectiveUS /kənˈspɪkjuːəs/
obvious to the eye or mind
From this reading To Tollman's eyes familiar with content and superscription, it was all glaringly conspicuous.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading To Tollman's eyes familiar with content and superscription, it was all glaringly conspicuous.
crippleverbUS /ˈkrɪpəl/
deprive of strength or efficiency; make useless or worthless
From this reading But the Virginian was not yet broken to the habit of being a cripple.
Eben
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading Would Stuart see the initials or would they escape his notice?
opinion or judgment
From this reading To Tollman's eyes familiar with content and superscription, it was all glaringly conspicuous.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading To Tollman's eyes familiar with content and superscription, it was all glaringly conspicuous.
Farquaharson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
glaringlyadverb
in a glaring manner
From this reading To Tollman's eyes familiar with content and superscription, it was all glaringly conspicuous.
an established custom
From this reading But the Virginian was not yet broken to the habit of being a cripple.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
hairbreadth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
headlinesnounUS /ˈhedlaɪnz/
plural of “headline” — the heading or caption of a newspaper article
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
initialsnounUS /ˌɪˈnɪʃəlz/
plural of “initial” — the first letter of a word (especially a person's name)
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
issueverbUS /ˈɪʃuː/
prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To Tollman's eyes familiar with content and superscription, it was all glaringly conspicuous.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
narrowedadjectiveUS /ˈneroʊd/
reduced in size as by squeezing together
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
narrownessnounUS /ˈneroʊnəs/
the property of being narrow; having little width
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But the Virginian was not yet broken to the habit of being a cripple.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading Would Stuart see the initials or would they escape his notice?
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
and nothing more
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Would Stuart see the initials or would they escape his notice?
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
pastyadjective
resembling paste in color; pallid
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
perfunctoryadjectiveUS /pərˈfʌŋktəri/
hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
cut with a saw
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Would Stuart see the initials or would they escape his notice?
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
be standing; be upright
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
StuartnounUS /ˈstuːərt/
United States painter best known for his portraits of George Washington (1755-1828)
From this reading Would Stuart see the initials or would they escape his notice?
superscriptionnoun
an inscription written above something else
From this reading To Tollman's eyes familiar with content and superscription, it was all glaringly conspicuous.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
sweatnounUS /swet/
salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
tensionnounUS /ˈtenʃən/
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Would Stuart see the initials or would they escape his notice?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To Tollman's eyes familiar with content and superscription, it was all glaringly conspicuous.
Tollman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Tollman's eyes familiar with content and superscription, it was all glaringly conspicuous.
VirginiannounUS /vərˈdʒɪnjən/
a native or resident of Virginia
From this reading But the Virginian was not yet broken to the habit of being a cripple.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To Tollman's eyes familiar with content and superscription, it was all glaringly conspicuous.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
a Caucasian
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole issue had narrowed now, Eben realized with a tension of fear which brought out sweat beads on the pasty white of his face, to the hairbreadth narrowness of one question.
in the company of; together with
From this reading To Tollman's eyes familiar with content and superscription, it was all glaringly conspicuous.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The initials seemed to stand out like headlines, but Farquaharson was without suspicion and he saw only one more paper in which his interest was most perfunctory.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Would Stuart see the initials or would they escape his notice?
but in spite of that
From this reading But the Virginian was not yet broken to the habit of being a cripple.
