used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Andrew was leaning upon the arm of a dark, smooth-shaven man, and had apparently just descended from the lift.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Andrew was leaning upon the arm of a dark, smooth-shaven man, and had apparently just descended from the lift.
ANDREWnounUS /ˈændruː/
(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; brother of Peter; patron saint of Scotland
From this reading THE BLUNDERING OF ANDREW They came face to face in the hall of the Grand Hotel.
from appearances alone
From this reading Andrew was leaning upon the arm of a dark, smooth-shaven man, and had apparently just descended from the lift.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Andrew was leaning upon the arm of a dark, smooth-shaven man, and had apparently just descended from the lift.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the sound of Duncombe's little exclamation they both stopped short.
BLUNDERINGverbUS /ˈblʌndərɪŋ/
-ing form of “blunder” — commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake
From this reading THE BLUNDERING OF ANDREW They came face to face in the hall of the Grand Hotel.
the two together, not just one
From this reading At the sound of Duncombe's little exclamation they both stopped short.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Andrew turned his heavily spectacled eyes in Duncombe's direction, but it was obvious that he saw nothing.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Duncombe had just returned from his call upon the Marquise.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE BLUNDERING OF ANDREW They came face to face in the hall of the Grand Hotel.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Andrew was leaning upon the arm of a dark, smooth-shaven man, and had apparently just descended from the lift.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading Andrew was leaning upon the arm of a dark, smooth-shaven man, and had apparently just descended from the lift.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Andrew turned his heavily spectacled eyes in Duncombe's direction, but it was obvious that he saw nothing.
Duncombe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncombe had just returned from his call upon the Marquise.
Duncombe's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the sound of Duncombe's little exclamation they both stopped short.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading At the sound of Duncombe's little exclamation they both stopped short.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Andrew turned his heavily spectacled eyes in Duncombe's direction, but it was obvious that he saw nothing.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading THE BLUNDERING OF ANDREW They came face to face in the hall of the Grand Hotel.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Duncombe had just returned from his call upon the Marquise.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading THE BLUNDERING OF ANDREW They came face to face in the hall of the Grand Hotel.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Duncombe had just returned from his call upon the Marquise.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading THE BLUNDERING OF ANDREW They came face to face in the hall of the Grand Hotel.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Andrew turned his heavily spectacled eyes in Duncombe's direction, but it was obvious that he saw nothing.
to a considerable degree
From this reading Andrew turned his heavily spectacled eyes in Duncombe's direction, but it was obvious that he saw nothing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Duncombe had just returned from his call upon the Marquise.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading THE BLUNDERING OF ANDREW They came face to face in the hall of the Grand Hotel.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE BLUNDERING OF ANDREW They came face to face in the hall of the Grand Hotel.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Andrew turned his heavily spectacled eyes in Duncombe's direction, but it was obvious that he saw nothing.
and nothing more
From this reading Duncombe had just returned from his call upon the Marquise.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading Andrew was leaning upon the arm of a dark, smooth-shaven man, and had apparently just descended from the lift.
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading Andrew was leaning upon the arm of a dark, smooth-shaven man, and had apparently just descended from the lift.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At the sound of Duncombe's little exclamation they both stopped short.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Andrew was leaning upon the arm of a dark, smooth-shaven man, and had apparently just descended from the lift.
Marquisenoun
a noblewoman ranking below a duchess and above a countess
From this reading Duncombe had just returned from his call upon the Marquise.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Andrew turned his heavily spectacled eyes in Duncombe's direction, but it was obvious that he saw nothing.
obviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/
easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
From this reading Andrew turned his heavily spectacled eyes in Duncombe's direction, but it was obvious that he saw nothing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BLUNDERING OF ANDREW They came face to face in the hall of the Grand Hotel.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Duncombe had just returned from his call upon the Marquise.
cut with a saw
From this reading Andrew turned his heavily spectacled eyes in Duncombe's direction, but it was obvious that he saw nothing.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading At the sound of Duncombe's little exclamation they both stopped short.
smooth-shavenadjectiveUS /ˌsmuːθˈʃeɪvən/
closely shaved recently
From this reading Andrew was leaning upon the arm of a dark, smooth-shaven man, and had apparently just descended from the lift.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading At the sound of Duncombe's little exclamation they both stopped short.
spectacledadjective
wearing, or having the face adorned with, eyeglasses or an eyeglass
From this reading Andrew turned his heavily spectacled eyes in Duncombe's direction, but it was obvious that he saw nothing.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading At the sound of Duncombe's little exclamation they both stopped short.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Andrew turned his heavily spectacled eyes in Duncombe's direction, but it was obvious that he saw nothing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BLUNDERING OF ANDREW They came face to face in the hall of the Grand Hotel.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE BLUNDERING OF ANDREW They came face to face in the hall of the Grand Hotel.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE BLUNDERING OF ANDREW They came face to face in the hall of the Grand Hotel.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Andrew turned his heavily spectacled eyes in Duncombe's direction, but it was obvious that he saw nothing.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Duncombe had just returned from his call upon the Marquise.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Andrew was leaning upon the arm of a dark, smooth-shaven man, and had apparently just descended from the lift.
