used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
awkwardlyadverbUS /ˈɔːkwərdli/
in an awkward manner
From this reading But, seeing MacNutt step quickly inside, he himself awkwardly took off his hat.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, seeing MacNutt step quickly inside, he himself awkwardly took off his hat.
calmnessnounUS /ˈkɑːmnəs/
steadiness of mind under stress
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
chestnutadjectiveUS /ˈtʃesnʌt/
(of hair or feathers) of a golden brown to reddish brown color
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
recognizable; marked
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
Durkin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
opinion or judgment
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
fullnessnounUS /ˈfʊlnəs/
completeness over a broad scope
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
a young female
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading But, seeing MacNutt step quickly inside, he himself awkwardly took off his hat.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But, seeing MacNutt step quickly inside, he himself awkwardly took off his hat.
hipsnounUS /hɪps/
plural of “hip” — either side of the body below the waist and above the thigh
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But, seeing MacNutt step quickly inside, he himself awkwardly took off his hat.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading But, seeing MacNutt step quickly inside, he himself awkwardly took off his hat.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
keyedadjectiveUS /kiːd/
fitted with or secured by a key
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
knobnounUS /nɑːb/
a circular rounded projection or protuberance
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
languidadjectiveUS /ˈlæŋɡwəd/
lacking spirit or liveliness
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
MacNutt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, seeing MacNutt step quickly inside, he himself awkwardly took off his hat.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
being perceived or observed
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But, seeing MacNutt step quickly inside, he himself awkwardly took off his hat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
pallornoun
unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
pensiveadjectiveUS /ˈpensɪv/
deeply or seriously thoughtful
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
poiseverbUS /pɔɪz/
be motionless, in suspension
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
with speed
From this reading But, seeing MacNutt step quickly inside, he himself awkwardly took off his hat.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading But, seeing MacNutt step quickly inside, he himself awkwardly took off his hat.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
snappingverbUS /ˈsnæpɪŋ/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading But, seeing MacNutt step quickly inside, he himself awkwardly took off his hat.
not in physical motion
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
timidlyadverbUS /ˈtɪmədli/
in a shy or timid or bashful manner
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading But, seeing MacNutt step quickly inside, he himself awkwardly took off his hat.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
unlooked-foradjective
not anticipated
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
violet-blueadjective
of blue tinged with lavender
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
a vivid mental image
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
wavingnounUS /ˈweɪvɪŋ/
the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money
From this reading As he noticed the wealth of her waving chestnut hair, and the poise of the head, and the quiet calmness of the eyes, that appeared almost a violet-blue in contrast to the soft pallor of her face, Durkin felt that they had made a mistake in the house number.
wearinessnounUS /ˈwɪrinəs/
temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
womanlyadjective
befitting or characteristic of a woman especially a mature woman
From this reading Under the spell of her quiet, almost pensive smile, he decided that she could be little more than a mere girl, until he noticed the womanly fullness of her breast and hips and what seemed a languid weariness about the eyes themselves.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading As it finally opened, slowly, he had the startled vision of a young woman, dressed in sober black, looking half timidly out at them, with her hand still on the knob.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading It was a full minute before the door swung open; and the unlooked-for wait in some way keyed the younger man’s curiosity up to the snapping point.
