used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
confined by bonds
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Now, with that low waist-line and those broken boots, his legs looked shorter than ever.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
cheapadjectiveUS /tʃiːp/
relatively low in price or charging low prices
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
comparisonnounUS /kəmˈperəsən/
the act of examining resemblances
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
Denis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Denis?” shouted Tikhon Ilitch.
Deniska
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
dilapidatedadjectiveUS /dəˈlæpədeɪtɪd/
in deplorable condition
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
at any time
From this reading Now, with that low waist-line and those broken boots, his legs looked shorter than ever.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
garmentnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənt/
an article of clothing
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
the act of retaining something
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
Ilitch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Denis?” shouted Tikhon Ilitch.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
the sound of laughing
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
lavishlyadverbUS /ˈlævɪʃli/
in a wasteful manner
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
staying power
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Now, with that low waist-line and those broken boots, his legs looked shorter than ever.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
nailheads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, with that low waist-line and those broken boots, his legs looked shorter than ever.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
peakedadjectiveUS /piːkt/
somewhat ill or prone to illness
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
pendantnounUS /ˈpendənt/
an adornment that hangs from a piece of jewelry (necklace or earring)
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
a strong line
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
shorteradjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtər/
comparative of “short” — primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Now, with that low waist-line and those broken boots, his legs looked shorter than ever.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading “Denis?” shouted Tikhon Ilitch.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
having a supporting base
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
studdedadjectiveUS /ˈstʌdɪd/
dotted or adorned with or as with studs or nailheads; usually used in combination
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Now, with that low waist-line and those broken boots, his legs looked shorter than ever.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now, with that low waist-line and those broken boots, his legs looked shorter than ever.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Now, with that low waist-line and those broken boots, his legs looked shorter than ever.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
Tikhon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Denis?” shouted Tikhon Ilitch.
tinnounUS /tɪn/
a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
under-jacket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
valisenoun
a small overnight bag for short trips
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
precisely as stated
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
waist-line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading Deniska was wearing an under-jacket, an old and, evidently, a very heavy garment with pendant shoulders and a very low waist-line, a new peaked cap, and dilapidated boots.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His figure was badly built; his legs were extremely short in comparison with his body: “I have nothing but a body,” he sometimes said of himself, with a laugh.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Deniska, his head bowed in thought, was standing on the platform and holding in his right hand a cheap grey valise, lavishly studded with tin nailheads and bound about with a rope.
