used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
absorptionnounUS /əbˈzɔːrpʃən/
(chemistry) a process in which one substance permeates another; a fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It was an affair of great effort and concentration.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an affair of great effort and concentration.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was an affair of great effort and concentration.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When William whistled, he could be heard a long way off.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was a sound before which strong men quailed.
browsnounUS /braʊz/
plural of “brow” — the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
concentrationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsənˈtreɪʃən/
the strength of a solution; number of molecules of a substance in a given volume
From this reading It was an affair of great effort and concentration.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When William whistled, he could be heard a long way off.
determinedlyadverbUS /dəˈtɜːrmənədli/
with determination; in a determined manner
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading It was an affair of great effort and concentration.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading WILLIAM'S HELPING HAND WILLIAM was on his way to visit his new friend.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It was an affair of great effort and concentration.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
halonounUS /ˈheɪloʊ/
an indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading WILLIAM'S HELPING HAND WILLIAM was on his way to visit his new friend.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round 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 He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading When William whistled, he could be heard a long way off.
HELPINGnounUS /ˈhelpɪŋ/
an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
From this reading WILLIAM'S HELPING HAND WILLIAM was on his way to visit his new friend.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading WILLIAM'S HELPING HAND WILLIAM was on his way to visit his new friend.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an affair of great effort and concentration.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading When William whistled, he could be heard a long way off.
the force of workers available
From this reading It was a sound before which strong men quailed.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading WILLIAM'S HELPING HAND WILLIAM was on his way to visit his new friend.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading When William whistled, he could be heard a long way off.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading WILLIAM'S HELPING HAND WILLIAM was on his way to visit his new friend.
pursedverbUS /pɜːrst/
past form of “purse” — contract one's lips into a rounded shape
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
quailed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a sound before which strong men quailed.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
scowlnounUS /skaʊl/
a facial expression of dislike or displeasure
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading It was a sound before which strong men quailed.
having a supporting base
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading It was a sound before which strong men quailed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WILLIAM'S HELPING HAND WILLIAM was on his way to visit his new friend.
unsaintly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
untidyadjectiveUS /ənˈtaɪdi/
not neat and tidy
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading WILLIAM'S HELPING HAND WILLIAM was on his way to visit his new friend.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WILLIAM'S HELPING HAND WILLIAM was on his way to visit his new friend.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading WILLIAM'S HELPING HAND WILLIAM was on his way to visit his new friend.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
at the time that
From this reading When William whistled, he could be heard a long way off.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a sound before which strong men quailed.
whistledverbUS /ˈwɪsəld/
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading He whistled as he went, his lips pursed determinedly, his brows drawn into a scowl of absorption, his untidy hair standing, like a somewhat unsaintly halo, round his head.
WILLIAM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WILLIAM'S HELPING HAND WILLIAM was on his way to visit his new friend.
WILLIAM'SnounUS /ˈwɪljəmz/
possessive form of “williams” — United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)
From this reading WILLIAM'S HELPING HAND WILLIAM was on his way to visit his new friend.
