used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Smoke was advancing across the carpet.
advancingadjectiveUS /ədˈvænsɪŋ/
moving forward
From this reading Smoke was advancing across the carpet.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading He marched along, picking his way delicately, but with a stately dignity that suggested his ancestry with the majesty of Egypt.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He seemed very pleased with himself, and smiled with an expression of supreme innocence.
ancestrynounUS /ˈænsestri/
the descendants of one individual
From this reading He marched along, picking his way delicately, but with a stately dignity that suggested his ancestry with the majesty of Egypt.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He seemed very pleased with himself, and smiled with an expression of supreme innocence.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was no shadow-cat, but real and full of his usual and perfect self-possession.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading Smoke was advancing across the carpet.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
delicatelyadverbUS /ˈdeləkətli/
in a delicate manner
From this reading He marched along, picking his way delicately, but with a stately dignity that suggested his ancestry with the majesty of Egypt.
the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
From this reading He marched along, picking his way delicately, but with a stately dignity that suggested his ancestry with the majesty of Egypt.
EgyptnounUS /ˈiːdʒəpt/
a republic in northeastern Africa known as the United Arab Republic until 1971; site of an ancient civilization that flourished from 2600 to 30 BC
From this reading He marched along, picking his way delicately, but with a stately dignity that suggested his ancestry with the majesty of Egypt.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading He seemed very pleased with himself, and smiled with an expression of supreme innocence.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading He was no shadow-cat, but real and full of his usual and perfect self-possession.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He seemed very pleased with himself, and smiled with an expression of supreme innocence.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He seemed very pleased with himself, and smiled with an expression of supreme innocence.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was no shadow-cat, but real and full of his usual and perfect self-possession.
the quality of innocent naivete
From this reading He seemed very pleased with himself, and smiled with an expression of supreme innocence.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
impressiveness in scale or proportion
From this reading He marched along, picking his way delicately, but with a stately dignity that suggested his ancestry with the majesty of Egypt.
marchedverbUS /mɑːrtʃt/
past form of “march” — march in a procession
From this reading He marched along, picking his way delicately, but with a stately dignity that suggested his ancestry with the majesty of Egypt.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
not any; not one
From this reading He was no shadow-cat, but real and full of his usual and perfect self-possession.
normaladjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrməl/
conforming with or constituting a norm or standard or level or type or social norm; not abnormal
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading He was no shadow-cat, but real and full of his usual and perfect self-possession.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading He marched along, picking his way delicately, but with a stately dignity that suggested his ancestry with the majesty of Egypt.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading He seemed very pleased with himself, and smiled with an expression of supreme innocence.
purringverbUS /ˈpɜːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “purr” — make a soft swishing sound
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading He was no shadow-cat, but real and full of his usual and perfect self-possession.
restorationnounUS /ˌrestərˈeɪʃən/
the reign of Charles II in England; 1660-1685
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He seemed very pleased with himself, and smiled with an expression of supreme innocence.
self-possessionnoun
the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior
From this reading He was no shadow-cat, but real and full of his usual and perfect self-possession.
shadow-cat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was no shadow-cat, but real and full of his usual and perfect self-possession.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He seemed very pleased with himself, and smiled with an expression of supreme innocence.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Smoke was advancing across the carpet.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
statelyadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪtli/
impressive in appearance
From this reading He marched along, picking his way delicately, but with a stately dignity that suggested his ancestry with the majesty of Egypt.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading He marched along, picking his way delicately, but with a stately dignity that suggested his ancestry with the majesty of Egypt.
supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/
final or last in your life or progress
From this reading He seemed very pleased with himself, and smiled with an expression of supreme innocence.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He marched along, picking his way delicately, but with a stately dignity that suggested his ancestry with the majesty of Egypt.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading He was no shadow-cat, but real and full of his usual and perfect self-possession.
precisely as stated
From this reading He seemed very pleased with himself, and smiled with an expression of supreme innocence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Smoke was advancing across the carpet.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He marched along, picking his way delicately, but with a stately dignity that suggested his ancestry with the majesty of Egypt.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Next, from the shadows by the window, a somewhat shrill purring announced the restoration of the cat to its normal state.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He seemed very pleased with himself, and smiled with an expression of supreme innocence.
