used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
anew
From this reading People paused to look again at him--for he was a stranger there--but nobody recognized him, and Mr. Carl Walraven read his bill undisturbed.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
aristocraticadjectiveUS /ərˌɪstəˈkrætɪk/
belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading People paused to look again at him--for he was a stranger there--but nobody recognized him, and Mr. Carl Walraven read his bill undisturbed.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
beardedadjectiveUS /ˈbɪrdəd/
having hair on the cheeks and chin
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
a rapid active commotion
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading People paused to look again at him--for he was a stranger there--but nobody recognized him, and Mr. Carl Walraven read his bill undisturbed.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
Carl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People paused to look again at him--for he was a stranger there--but nobody recognized him, and Mr. Carl Walraven read his bill undisturbed.
changingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/
marked by continuous change or effective action
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
clothing in general
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
collectionnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
CRICKETnounUS /ˈkrɪkət/
leaping insect; male makes chirping noises by rubbing the forewings together
From this reading "CRICKET."
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
distinguished-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
domenounUS /doʊm/
a concave shape whose distinguishing characteristic is that the concavity faces downward
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
gasnounUS /ɡæs/
the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
a man of refinement
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
grindingnounUS /ˈɡraɪndɪŋ/
material resulting from the process of grinding
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading People paused to look again at him--for he was a stranger there--but nobody recognized him, and Mr. Carl Walraven read his bill undisturbed.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading People paused to look again at him--for he was a stranger there--but nobody recognized him, and Mr. Carl Walraven read his bill undisturbed.
instrumentsnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənts/
plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
the sound of laughing
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading People paused to look again at him--for he was a stranger there--but nobody recognized him, and Mr. Carl Walraven read his bill undisturbed.
luminousadjectiveUS /ˈluːmənəs/
softly bright or radiant
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
middle-agedadjectiveUS /ˈmɪdəleɪɡd/
being roughly between 45 and 65 years old
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
a form of address for a man
From this reading People paused to look again at him--for he was a stranger there--but nobody recognized him, and Mr. Carl Walraven read his bill undisturbed.
no person; not anyone
From this reading People paused to look again at him--for he was a stranger there--but nobody recognized him, and Mr. Carl Walraven read his bill undisturbed.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
odornounUS /ˈoʊdər/
any property detected by the olfactory system
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
orange-peel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
overturenounUS /ˈoʊvərtʃər/
orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading People paused to look again at him--for he was a stranger there--but nobody recognized him, and Mr. Carl Walraven read his bill undisturbed.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading People paused to look again at him--for he was a stranger there--but nobody recognized him, and Mr. Carl Walraven read his bill undisturbed.
piercingadjectiveUS /ˈpɪrsɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
pitnounUS /pɪt/
A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
prevalentadjectiveUS /ˈprevələnt/
most frequent or common
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
provincialadjectiveUS /prəˈvɪnʃəl/
of or associated with a province
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
on the contrary
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading People paused to look again at him--for he was a stranger there--but nobody recognized him, and Mr. Carl Walraven read his bill undisturbed.
move upward
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
sauntered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
staleadjectiveUS /steɪl/
lacking freshness, palatability, or showing deterioration from age
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
stampsnounUS /stæmps/
plural of “stamp” — the distinctive form in which a thing is made
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading People paused to look again at him--for he was a stranger there--but nobody recognized him, and Mr. Carl Walraven read his bill undisturbed.
stringedverbUS /strɪŋd/
past form of “string” — thread on or as if on a string
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
superfineadjective
of extremely fine size or texture
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
tawdryadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːdri/
tastelessly showy
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
theaternounUS /ˈθiːətər/
a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
tiersnounUS /tiːrz/
plural of “tier” — a relative position or degree of value in a graded group
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
tobacconounUS /təˈbækoʊ/
leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion
From this reading There was a prevalent odor of stale tobacco, and orange-peel, and bad gas; and there was bustle, and noise, and laughter, and a harsh collection of stringed instruments grinding out the overture.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
undisturbedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪˈstɜːrbd/
untroubled by interference or disturbance
From this reading People paused to look again at him--for he was a stranger there--but nobody recognized him, and Mr. Carl Walraven read his bill undisturbed.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
Walraven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People paused to look again at him--for he was a stranger there--but nobody recognized him, and Mr. Carl Walraven read his bill undisturbed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The little provincial theater was crowded from pit to dome--long tiers of changing faces and luminous eyes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
at the time that
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There were stamps and calls for the tawdry curtain to rise, when a gentleman entered, sauntered up to a front seat, took up a bill and began to read it--a tall, middle-aged, rather distinguished-looking man, black and bearded, with piercing eyes, superfine clothes, and a general aristocratic air about him.
