used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins could not hear.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading And after a second's hesitation, Lorraine faced about and strode away.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading And after a second's hesitation, Lorraine faced about and strode away.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Good-bye!" she answered, and turned away.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "Good-bye!" she answered, and turned away.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Good-bye!" she answered, and turned away.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And I'm not so sure _now_ that I want a divorce," he said--"and _you_ can't get one."
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins could not hear.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
divorceverbUS /dɪˈvɔːrs/
part; cease or break association with
From this reading "And I'm not so sure _now_ that I want a divorce," he said--"and _you_ can't get one."
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins could not hear.
divisible by two
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
expressiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspresɪv/
characterized by expression
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading And after a second's hesitation, Lorraine faced about and strode away.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "And I'm not so sure _now_ that I want a divorce," he said--"and _you_ can't get one."
Good-byenounUS /ɡɪdˈbaɪ/
a farewell remark
From this reading "Good-bye!" she answered, and turned away.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins could not hear.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins could not hear.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins could not hear.
hesitationnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃən/
indecision in speech or action
From this reading And after a second's hesitation, Lorraine faced about and strode away.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins could not hear.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "And I'm not so sure _now_ that I want a divorce," he said--"and _you_ can't get one."
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And I'm not so sure _now_ that I want a divorce," he said--"and _you_ can't get one."
LorrainenounUS /lərˈeɪn/
an eastern French region rich in iron-ore deposits
From this reading And after a second's hesitation, Lorraine faced about and strode away.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins could not hear.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "And I'm not so sure _now_ that I want a divorce," he said--"and _you_ can't get one."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "And I'm not so sure _now_ that I want a divorce," he said--"and _you_ can't get one."
and nothing more
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "And I'm not so sure _now_ that I want a divorce," he said--"and _you_ can't get one."
second'snounUS /ˈsekəndz/
possessive form of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading And after a second's hesitation, Lorraine faced about and strode away.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Good-bye!" she answered, and turned away.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
shrugnounUS /ʃrʌɡ/
a gesture involving the shoulders
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins could not hear.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins could not hear.
strodeverbUS /stroʊd/
inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading And after a second's hesitation, Lorraine faced about and strode away.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "And I'm not so sure _now_ that I want a divorce," he said--"and _you_ can't get one."
carry out
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins could not hear.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
Tompkins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins could not hear.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins could not hear.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins could not hear.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading "Good-bye!" she answered, and turned away.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He took a step toward her, and dropped his voice so that Tompkins could not hear.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "And I'm not so sure _now_ that I want a divorce," he said--"and _you_ can't get one."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her only reply was the slightest shrug of the shoulders and an expressive motion of her hands--she did not even take the trouble to turn her head.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "And I'm not so sure _now_ that I want a divorce," he said--"and _you_ can't get one."
