used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then he seized her muff, which dangled from her neck by a thin platinum chain.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
adroitadjectiveUS /əˈdrɔɪt/
quick or skillful or adept in action or thought
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Then, while he supported her with one arm, with the other he thrust at the door to close it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then, while he supported her with one arm, with the other he thrust at the door to close it.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Then he seized her muff, which dangled from her neck by a thin platinum chain.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading Then he seized her muff, which dangled from her neck by a thin platinum chain.
ChesterfieldnounUS /ˈtʃestərfiːld/
suave and witty English statesman remembered mostly for letters to his son (1694-1773)
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Then, while he supported her with one arm, with the other he thrust at the door to close it.
collapsedverbUS /kəˈlæpst/
past form of “collapse” — break down, literally or metaphorically
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
crammedverbUS /kræmd/
inflected form of “cram” — crowd or pack to capacity
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
dangledverbUS /ˈdæŋɡəld/
past form of “dangle” — hang freely
From this reading Then he seized her muff, which dangled from her neck by a thin platinum chain.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Then, while he supported her with one arm, with the other he thrust at the door to close it.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then he seized her muff, which dangled from her neck by a thin platinum chain.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
a young female
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then, while he supported her with one arm, with the other he thrust at the door to close it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
held up in the air
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
METAMORPHOSISnounUS /ˌmet.əˈmɔːr.fə.sɪs/
A change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one.
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS OF MR.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS OF MR.
muffnounUS /mʌf/
a warm tubular covering for the hands
From this reading Then he seized her muff, which dangled from her neck by a thin platinum chain.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading Then he seized her muff, which dangled from her neck by a thin platinum chain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS OF MR.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Then, while he supported her with one arm, with the other he thrust at the door to close it.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Then, while he supported her with one arm, with the other he thrust at the door to close it.
yielding a fair profit
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
platinumnounUS /ˈplætnəm/
a heavy precious metallic element; grey-white and resistant to corroding; occurs in some nickel and copper ores and is also found native in some deposits
From this reading Then he seized her muff, which dangled from her neck by a thin platinum chain.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
SCHULZnounUS /ʃʊlts/
United States cartoonist whose comic strip included the beagle Snoopy (1922-2000)
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Then he seized her muff, which dangled from her neck by a thin platinum chain.
supportedadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪd/
sustained or maintained by aid (as distinct from physical support)
From this reading Then, while he supported her with one arm, with the other he thrust at the door to close it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE METAMORPHOSIS OF MR.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, while he supported her with one arm, with the other he thrust at the door to close it.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Then he seized her muff, which dangled from her neck by a thin platinum chain.
push forcefully
From this reading Then, while he supported her with one arm, with the other he thrust at the door to close it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then, while he supported her with one arm, with the other he thrust at the door to close it.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Then, while he supported her with one arm, with the other he thrust at the door to close it.
whiskedverbUS /wɪskt/
past form of “whisk” — move somewhere quickly
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
in the company of; together with
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without paying further attention to it, he turned and, bending down, lifted the girl without an effort off her feet and carried her across the room to the Chesterfield, upon which he laid her at full length.
yellow-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SCHULZ As the girl collapsed, the yellow-faced man, with an adroit movement, whisked the handkerchief off her face and crammed it into his pocket.
