used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
a youthful male person
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading Her face had hardened and she had flung up her clenched hands in fierce helplessness.
clothing in general
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
clumsilyadverbUS /ˈklʌmsəli/
in a clumsy manner
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
disordernounUS /dɪˈsɔːrdər/
a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Her face had hardened and she had flung up her clenched hands in fierce helplessness.
FerdinandnounUS /ˈfɜːrdɪnænd/
the king of Castile and Aragon who ruled jointly with his wife Isabella
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading Her face had hardened and she had flung up her clenched hands in fierce helplessness.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Her face had hardened and she had flung up her clenched hands in fierce helplessness.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Her face had hardened and she had flung up her clenched hands in fierce helplessness.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
hardenedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdənd/
used of persons; emotionally hardened
From this reading Her face had hardened and she had flung up her clenched hands in fierce helplessness.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
helplessnessnounUS /ˈhelpləsnəs/
powerlessness revealed by an inability to act
From this reading Her face had hardened and she had flung up her clenched hands in fierce helplessness.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading TOM'S LEVEE It was seven o'clock the next morning.
and nothing more
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
keyholenounUS /ˈkiːhoʊl/
the hole where a key is inserted
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
LEVEEnounUS /ˈlevi/
a formal reception of visitors or guests (as at a royal court)
From this reading TOM'S LEVEE It was seven o'clock the next morning.
loafnounUS /loʊf/
a shaped mass of baked bread that is usually sliced before eating
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
Maggie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading TOM'S LEVEE It was seven o'clock the next morning.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading TOM'S LEVEE It was seven o'clock the next morning.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading TOM'S LEVEE It was seven o'clock the next morning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
Petersen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
pillownounUS /ˈpɪloʊ/
a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
proppedverbUS /prɑːpt/
inflected form of “prop” — support by placing against something solid or rigid
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading TOM'S LEVEE It was seven o'clock the next morning.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
for a short time
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
having a supporting base
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TOM'S LEVEE It was seven o'clock the next morning.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
male cat
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
TOM'SnounUS /tɑːmz/
possessive form of “tom” — male cat
From this reading TOM'S LEVEE It was seven o'clock the next morning.
hard to endure
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading TOM'S LEVEE It was seven o'clock the next morning.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
at the time that
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading When Maggie had opened the door the night before, while Petersen was clumsily trying to fit Tom's key into the keyhole, the sight of Tom standing against the wall on one foot, his clothes in disorder, had been to her imagination a full explanation of what had happened.
which person or people
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Tom lay propped up on the couch in his sitting-room, his foot on a pillow, waiting for Maggie to come back with the morning papers.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A minute before he had asked Ferdinand to run down and get them for him, but Maggie, who just then had been starting out for a loaf of bread, had said shortly to the boy that she would get them herself.
