the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “Have you any idea who wrote this?”
Bartley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, I don't know,” Bartley began.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “Well, I don't know,” Bartley began.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, I don't know,” Bartley began.
ear-marks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Have you any idea who wrote this?”
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
high-mindedadjectiveUS /ˌhaɪˈmaɪndɪd/
of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
HubbardnounUS /ˈhʌbərd/
a United States writer of science fiction and founder of Scientology (1911-1986)
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Well, I don't know,” Bartley began.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “Have you any idea who wrote this?”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Oh, yes, I wrote it.”
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “Well, I don't know,” Bartley began.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, yes, I wrote it.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
more desirable than another
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
on the contrary
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Have you any idea who wrote this?”
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
up to a particular time
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
transmuting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well, I don't know,” Bartley began.
which person or people
From this reading “Have you any idea who wrote this?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
Witherby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
people who are wounded
From this reading Witherby had the task before him of transmuting an expression of rather low cunning into one of wounded confidence, mingled with high-minded surprise.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading “Have you any idea who wrote this?”
an affirmative
From this reading “Oh, yes, I wrote it.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Have you any idea who wrote this?”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I thought it had your ear-marks, Mr. Hubbard: but I preferred not to believe it till I heard the fact from your own lips.
