used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His plump face had an oddly sunken, pasty look.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
BangornounUS /ˈbæŋɡər/
a town in east central Maine on the Penobscot River
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
collapsenounUS /kəˈlæps/
an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
commentnounUS /ˈkɑːment/
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The jowls were pendulous, and there were dark rings under the eyes.
determinationnounUS /dɪˌtɜːrməˈneɪʃən/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The jowls were pendulous, and there were dark rings under the eyes.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His plump face had an oddly sunken, pasty look.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
furtivelyadverbUS /ˈfɜːrtɪvli/
in a furtive manner
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His plump face had an oddly sunken, pasty look.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
the act of retaining something
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
imminentadjectiveUS /ˈɪmənənt/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
jowlsnounUS /dʒaʊlz/
plural of “jowl” — the jaw in vertebrates that is hinged to open the mouth
From this reading The jowls were pendulous, and there were dark rings under the eyes.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
lobbynounUS /ˈlɑːbi/
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading His plump face had an oddly sunken, pasty look.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
a particular point in time
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
easily agitated
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
oddlyadverbUS /ˈɑːdli/
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading His plump face had an oddly sunken, pasty look.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
pastyadjective
resembling paste in color; pallid
From this reading His plump face had an oddly sunken, pasty look.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
pendulousadjectiveUS /ˈpendʒələs/
having branches or flower heads that bend downward
From this reading The jowls were pendulous, and there were dark rings under the eyes.
plumpadjectiveUS /plʌmp/
sufficiently fat so as to have a pleasing fullness of figure
From this reading His plump face had an oddly sunken, pasty look.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
ringsnounUS /rɪŋz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises
From this reading The jowls were pendulous, and there were dark rings under the eyes.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
sidewalknounUS /ˈsaɪdwɔːk/
walk consisting of a paved area for pedestrians; usually beside a street or roadway
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
SteppingverbUS /ˈstepɪŋ/
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
sunkenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌŋkən/
having a sunken area
From this reading His plump face had an oddly sunken, pasty look.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The jowls were pendulous, and there were dark rings under the eyes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Inside the door he paused a moment, staring almost furtively to right and left, as if the ruin he knew to be so imminent was already a matter of public knowledge and comment.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
TweedyadjectiveUS /ˈtwiːdi/
of textiles; having a rough surface
From this reading Stepping hastily from his car, John Tweedy hurried across the sidewalk, and entered the lobby of the Bangor House.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The jowls were pendulous, and there were dark rings under the eyes.
vergenounUS /vɜːrdʒ/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The jowls were pendulous, and there were dark rings under the eyes.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading His whole manner, in fact, was that of a man on the verge of a nervous collapse, holding himself together by sheer determination of will.
