used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE FACE AT THE DOOR It was after nine before the dance in the hall at the Corner began.
(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 They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Douglas was there early, and he watched with much interest the arrival of the various young couples.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Douglas was there early, and he watched with much interest the arrival of the various young couples.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE FACE AT THE DOOR It was after nine before the dance in the hall at the Corner began.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE FACE AT THE DOOR It was after nine before the dance in the hall at the Corner began.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE FACE AT THE DOOR It was after nine before the dance in the hall at the Corner began.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading THE FACE AT THE DOOR It was after nine before the dance in the hall at the Corner began.
couplesnounUS /ˈkʌpəlz/
plural of “couple” — a pair who associate with one another
From this reading Douglas was there early, and he watched with much interest the arrival of the various young couples.
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading But if they had only known who he really was, how curiously they would have observed his every movement.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading THE FACE AT THE DOOR It was after nine before the dance in the hall at the Corner began.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE FACE AT THE DOOR It was after nine before the dance in the hall at the Corner began.
DouglasnounUS /ˈdʌɡləs/
United States politician who proposed that individual territories be allowed to decide whether they would have slavery; he engaged in a famous series of debates with Abraham Lincoln (1813-1861)
From this reading Douglas was there early, and he watched with much interest the arrival of the various young couples.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Douglas was there early, and he watched with much interest the arrival of the various young couples.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading But if they had only known who he really was, how curiously they would have observed his every movement.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading THE FACE AT THE DOOR It was after nine before the dance in the hall at the Corner began.
flocknounUS /flɑːk/
a church congregation guided by a pastor
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
glancesnounUS /ˈɡlænsɪz/
plural of “glance” — a quick look
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading THE FACE AT THE DOOR It was after nine before the dance in the hall at the Corner began.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But if they had only known who he really was, how curiously they would have observed his every movement.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Douglas was there early, and he watched with much interest the arrival of the various young couples.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But if they had only known who he really was, how curiously they would have observed his every movement.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FACE AT THE DOOR It was after nine before the dance in the hall at the Corner began.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Douglas was there early, and he watched with much interest the arrival of the various young couples.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE FACE AT THE DOOR It was after nine before the dance in the hall at the Corner began.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading But if they had only known who he really was, how curiously they would have observed his every movement.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading But if they had only known who he really was, how curiously they would have observed his every movement.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Douglas was there early, and he watched with much interest the arrival of the various young couples.
musedverbUS /mjuːzd/
past form of “muse” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading THE FACE AT THE DOOR It was after nine before the dance in the hall at the Corner began.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading But if they had only known who he really was, how curiously they would have observed his every movement.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Douglas was there early, and he watched with much interest the arrival of the various young couples.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
and nothing more
From this reading But if they had only known who he really was, how curiously they would have observed his every movement.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
participate in games or sport
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
prowessnounUS /ˈpraʊəs/
a superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading But if they had only known who he really was, how curiously they would have observed his every movement.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FACE AT THE DOOR It was after nine before the dance in the hall at the Corner began.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Douglas was there early, and he watched with much interest the arrival of the various young couples.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading Douglas was there early, and he watched with much interest the arrival of the various young couples.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FACE AT THE DOOR It was after nine before the dance in the hall at the Corner began.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Douglas was there early, and he watched with much interest the arrival of the various young couples.
which person or people
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Douglas was there early, and he watched with much interest the arrival of the various young couples.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
wrestlernounUS /ˈresələr/
combatant who tries to throw opponent to the ground
From this reading They gave the stranger who was to play for them that night but passing glances, though all had heard of his prowess as a wrestler.
a late time of life
From this reading He did not know any of them, and as he sat back in one corner he mused upon their lives, and wondered how many of them would be members of his flock in the years to come.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Douglas was there early, and he watched with much interest the arrival of the various young couples.
