used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She leaned forward and rasped sharply, her soft hand moving as capably as a violinist’s.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She leaned forward and rasped sharply, her soft hand moving as capably as a violinist’s.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She leaned forward and rasped sharply, her soft hand moving as capably as a violinist’s.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She began filing briskly at her nails.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She began filing briskly at her nails.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading His brown eyes were large and clear behind tortoise-shell glasses.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading The little sickening buzz continued, and Ben folded the paper lengthwise and looked round it like a man at a half-open door.
brisklyadverbUS /ˈbrɪskli/
in a brisk manner
From this reading She began filing briskly at her nails.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading His brown eyes were large and clear behind tortoise-shell glasses.
buzzverbUS /bʌz/
make a buzzing sound
From this reading The little sickening buzz continued, and Ben folded the paper lengthwise and looked round it like a man at a half-open door.
capablyadverb
with competence; in a competent capable manner
From this reading She leaned forward and rasped sharply, her soft hand moving as capably as a violinist’s.
rid of obstructions
From this reading His brown eyes were large and clear behind tortoise-shell glasses.
without stop or interruption
From this reading The little sickening buzz continued, and Ben folded the paper lengthwise and looked round it like a man at a half-open door.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The little sickening buzz continued, and Ben folded the paper lengthwise and looked round it like a man at a half-open door.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His brown eyes were large and clear behind tortoise-shell glasses.
filingnounUS /ˈfaɪlɪŋ/
the entering of a legal document into the public record
From this reading She began filing briskly at her nails.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading The little sickening buzz continued, and Ben folded the paper lengthwise and looked round it like a man at a half-open door.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading She leaned forward and rasped sharply, her soft hand moving as capably as a violinist’s.
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading His brown eyes were large and clear behind tortoise-shell glasses.
half-open
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little sickening buzz continued, and Ben folded the paper lengthwise and looked round it like a man at a half-open door.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She leaned forward and rasped sharply, her soft hand moving as capably as a violinist’s.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She began filing briskly at her nails.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His brown eyes were large and clear behind tortoise-shell glasses.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The little sickening buzz continued, and Ben folded the paper lengthwise and looked round it like a man at a half-open door.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His brown eyes were large and clear behind tortoise-shell glasses.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading She leaned forward and rasped sharply, her soft hand moving as capably as a violinist’s.
lengthwiseadverbUS /ˈleŋθwaɪz/
in the direction of the length
From this reading The little sickening buzz continued, and Ben folded the paper lengthwise and looked round it like a man at a half-open door.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The little sickening buzz continued, and Ben folded the paper lengthwise and looked round it like a man at a half-open door.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little sickening buzz continued, and Ben folded the paper lengthwise and looked round it like a man at a half-open door.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The little sickening buzz continued, and Ben folded the paper lengthwise and looked round it like a man at a half-open door.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The little sickening buzz continued, and Ben folded the paper lengthwise and looked round it like a man at a half-open door.
in motion
From this reading She leaned forward and rasped sharply, her soft hand moving as capably as a violinist’s.
nailsnounUS /neɪlz/
plural of “nail” — horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
From this reading She began filing briskly at her nails.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading Presently the newspaper rustled uneasily.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading The little sickening buzz continued, and Ben folded the paper lengthwise and looked round it like a man at a half-open door.
in the near future
From this reading Presently the newspaper rustled uneasily.
raspedverbUS /ræspt/
past form of “rasp” — scrape with a rasp
From this reading She leaned forward and rasped sharply, her soft hand moving as capably as a violinist’s.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The little sickening buzz continued, and Ben folded the paper lengthwise and looked round it like a man at a half-open door.
rustled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently the newspaper rustled uneasily.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading She leaned forward and rasped sharply, her soft hand moving as capably as a violinist’s.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She began filing briskly at her nails.
sickeningadjectiveUS /ˈsɪkənɪŋ/
causing or able to cause nausea
From this reading The little sickening buzz continued, and Ben folded the paper lengthwise and looked round it like a man at a half-open door.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading She leaned forward and rasped sharply, her soft hand moving as capably as a violinist’s.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Presently the newspaper rustled uneasily.
tortoise-shell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His brown eyes were large and clear behind tortoise-shell glasses.
uneasilyadverbUS /əˈniːzəli/
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading Presently the newspaper rustled uneasily.
violinist's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She leaned forward and rasped sharply, her soft hand moving as capably as a violinist’s.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His brown eyes were large and clear behind tortoise-shell glasses.
