used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
having companions or an escort
From this reading The language that accompanied it showed madam to be mistress of the choicest Billingsgate in profusion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading By the time a second flat-iron sailed through the door Walter was a block away, and still running.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading By the time a second flat-iron sailed through the door Walter was a block away, and still running.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The language that accompanied it showed madam to be mistress of the choicest Billingsgate in profusion.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
Billingsgatenoun
foul-mouthed or obscene abuse
From this reading The language that accompanied it showed madam to be mistress of the choicest Billingsgate in profusion.
blocknounUS /blɑːk/
a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading By the time a second flat-iron sailed through the door Walter was a block away, and still running.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading It was shrewdly surmised that man and wife had broken up housekeeping.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
choicestadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɔɪsəst/
superlative of “choice” — of superior grade
From this reading The language that accompanied it showed madam to be mistress of the choicest Billingsgate in profusion.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading By the time a second flat-iron sailed through the door Walter was a block away, and still running.
a movement into or inward
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
faithfullyadverbUS /ˈfeɪθfəli/
in a faithful manner
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
flat-iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was shrewdly surmised that man and wife had broken up housekeeping.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
housekeepingnounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpɪŋ/
the work of cleaning and running a house
From this reading It was shrewdly surmised that man and wife had broken up housekeeping.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The language that accompanied it showed madam to be mistress of the choicest Billingsgate in profusion.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The language that accompanied it showed madam to be mistress of the choicest Billingsgate in profusion.
and nothing more
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading The language that accompanied it showed madam to be mistress of the choicest Billingsgate in profusion.
a woman of refinement
From this reading The language that accompanied it showed madam to be mistress of the choicest Billingsgate in profusion.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was shrewdly surmised that man and wife had broken up housekeeping.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
not able to be found
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading The language that accompanied it showed madam to be mistress of the choicest Billingsgate in profusion.
narrowlyadverbUS /ˈneroʊli/
in a narrow manner; not allowing for exceptions
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
not any; not one
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
the middle of the day
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
profusionnounUS /prəˈfjuːʒən/
the property of being extremely abundant
From this reading The language that accompanied it showed madam to be mistress of the choicest Billingsgate in profusion.
Ramon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading By the time a second flat-iron sailed through the door Walter was a block away, and still running.
past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading By the time a second flat-iron sailed through the door Walter was a block away, and still running.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading By the time a second flat-iron sailed through the door Walter was a block away, and still running.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The language that accompanied it showed madam to be mistress of the choicest Billingsgate in profusion.
shrewdlyadverbUS /ˈʃruːdli/
in a shrewd manner
From this reading It was shrewdly surmised that man and wife had broken up housekeeping.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
not in physical motion
From this reading By the time a second flat-iron sailed through the door Walter was a block away, and still running.
stoicallyadverbUS /ˈstoʊɪkli/
without emotion; in a stoic manner
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
surmisedverbUS /sərˈmaɪzd/
past form of “surmise” — infer from incomplete evidence
From this reading It was shrewdly surmised that man and wife had broken up housekeeping.
swallowedverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊd/
past form of “swallow” — pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The language that accompanied it showed madam to be mistress of the choicest Billingsgate in profusion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
a special situation
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading By the time a second flat-iron sailed through the door Walter was a block away, and still running.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading By the time a second flat-iron sailed through the door Walter was a block away, and still running.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The language that accompanied it showed madam to be mistress of the choicest Billingsgate in profusion.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was shrewdly surmised that man and wife had broken up housekeeping.
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
at the time that
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
whizzingverbUS /ˈwɪzɪŋ/
inflected form of “whiz” — make a soft swishing sound
From this reading Walter stood this sort of thing stoically until, one noon, when he was just entering the dining room, a flat-iron came whizzing by him, narrowly missing his head.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading It was shrewdly surmised that man and wife had broken up housekeeping.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
but in spite of that
From this reading Meanwhile the search for Ramon was faithfully kept up, yet so far with no better success than if the ground had opened and swallowed him up.
