used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The negro musicians struck up a livelier tune than before.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The dancing couples bobbed and writhed in the sensuous, shameless intimacies of the demi-mondaine bacchante.
bacchantenoun
(classical mythology) a priestess or votary of Bacchus
From this reading The dancing couples bobbed and writhed in the sensuous, shameless intimacies of the demi-mondaine bacchante.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Burke did not wish to be recognized too soon.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The negro musicians struck up a livelier tune than before.
bobbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dancing couples bobbed and writhed in the sensuous, shameless intimacies of the demi-mondaine bacchante.
Bobbie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
BurkenounUS /bɜːrk/
British statesman famous for his oratory; pleaded the cause of the American colonists in British Parliament and defended the parliamentary system (1729-1797)
From this reading Burke did not wish to be recognized too soon.
Burke'snounUS /bɜːrks/
possessive form of “burke” — British statesman famous for his oratory; pleaded the cause of the American colonists in British Parliament and defended the parliamentary system (1729-1797)
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
make calm or still
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
couplesnounUS /ˈkʌpəlz/
plural of “couple” — a pair who associate with one another
From this reading The dancing couples bobbed and writhed in the sensuous, shameless intimacies of the demi-mondaine bacchante.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading The dancing couples bobbed and writhed in the sensuous, shameless intimacies of the demi-mondaine bacchante.
demi-mondaine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dancing couples bobbed and writhed in the sensuous, shameless intimacies of the demi-mondaine bacchante.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Burke did not wish to be recognized too soon.
opinion or judgment
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He turned his face toward the wall of the restaurant while Jimmie the Monk tripped nonchalantly out into the street.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
GANGSTERSnounUS /ˈɡæŋstərz/
plural of “gangster” — a criminal who is a member of gang
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He turned his face toward the wall of the restaurant while Jimmie the Monk tripped nonchalantly out into the street.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The dancing couples bobbed and writhed in the sensuous, shameless intimacies of the demi-mondaine bacchante.
intimacies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dancing couples bobbed and writhed in the sensuous, shameless intimacies of the demi-mondaine bacchante.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He turned his face toward the wall of the restaurant while Jimmie the Monk tripped nonchalantly out into the street.
Jimmie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned his face toward the wall of the restaurant while Jimmie the Monk tripped nonchalantly out into the street.
livelieradjectiveUS /ˈlaɪvliər/
comparative of “lively” — full of life and energy
From this reading The negro musicians struck up a livelier tune than before.
maintainedadjectiveUS /meɪnˈteɪnd/
kept in good condition
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
MonknounUS /mʌŋk/
a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work
From this reading He turned his face toward the wall of the restaurant while Jimmie the Monk tripped nonchalantly out into the street.
musiciansnounUS /mjuːˈzɪʃənz/
plural of “musician” — someone who plays a musical instrument (as a profession)
From this reading The negro musicians struck up a livelier tune than before.
negronounUS /ˈniːɡroʊ/
a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading The negro musicians struck up a livelier tune than before.
nonchalantlyadverbUS /ˈnɑːnʃəˈlɑːntli/
in a composed and unconcerned manner
From this reading He turned his face toward the wall of the restaurant while Jimmie the Monk tripped nonchalantly out into the street.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Burke did not wish to be recognized too soon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He turned his face toward the wall of the restaurant while Jimmie the Monk tripped nonchalantly out into the street.
outwardadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtwərd/
relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Burke did not wish to be recognized too soon.
restaurantnounUS /ˈrestərɑːnt/
a building where people go to eat
From this reading He turned his face toward the wall of the restaurant while Jimmie the Monk tripped nonchalantly out into the street.
sensuousadjectiveUS /ˈsenʃəwəs/
taking delight in beauty
From this reading The dancing couples bobbed and writhed in the sensuous, shameless intimacies of the demi-mondaine bacchante.
shamelessadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪmləs/
feeling no shame
From this reading The dancing couples bobbed and writhed in the sensuous, shameless intimacies of the demi-mondaine bacchante.
in the near future
From this reading Burke did not wish to be recognized too soon.
sparkledverbUS /ˈspɑːrkəld/
past form of “sparkle” — reflect brightly
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading He turned his face toward the wall of the restaurant while Jimmie the Monk tripped nonchalantly out into the street.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The negro musicians struck up a livelier tune than before.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The negro musicians struck up a livelier tune than before.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Burke did not wish to be recognized too soon.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Burke did not wish to be recognized too soon.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading He turned his face toward the wall of the restaurant while Jimmie the Monk tripped nonchalantly out into the street.
trippedverbUS /trɪpt/
inflected form of “trip” — miss a step and fall or nearly fall
From this reading He turned his face toward the wall of the restaurant while Jimmie the Monk tripped nonchalantly out into the street.
tunenounUS /tuːn/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading The negro musicians struck up a livelier tune than before.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He turned his face toward the wall of the restaurant while Jimmie the Monk tripped nonchalantly out into the street.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The negro musicians struck up a livelier tune than before.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading He turned his face toward the wall of the restaurant while Jimmie the Monk tripped nonchalantly out into the street.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He turned his face toward the wall of the restaurant while Jimmie the Monk tripped nonchalantly out into the street.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading Burke did not wish to be recognized too soon.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
writhedadjectiveUS /rɪθd/
twisted (especially as in pain or struggle)
From this reading The dancing couples bobbed and writhed in the sensuous, shameless intimacies of the demi-mondaine bacchante.
but in spite of that
From this reading THE WORK OF THE GANGSTERS Bobbie Burke's eyes sparkled with the flame of battle spirit, yet he maintained an outward calm.
