used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
matters of personal concern
From this reading "We wish to see M. Vladimir Klostivitch on private affairs," replied the Sub.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
ajaradjectiveUS /əˈdʒɑːr/
slightly open
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am Vladimir Klostivitch," announced the old man.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading "I am Vladimir Klostivitch," announced the old man.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "It is useless to give one's names, for we are unknown to your master.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
callersnounUS /ˈkɔːlərz/
plural of “caller” — a social or business visitor
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading You can inform him that we are comrades from England."
plural of “comrade” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading You can inform him that we are comrades from England."
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
diminutiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/
very small
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading You can inform him that we are comrades from England."
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "It is useless to give one's names, for we are unknown to your master.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading You can inform him that we are comrades from England."
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "It is useless to give one's names, for we are unknown to your master.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You can inform him that we are comrades from England."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I am Vladimir Klostivitch," announced the old man.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
informverbUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrm/
impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to
From this reading You can inform him that we are comrades from England."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It is useless to give one's names, for we are unknown to your master.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It is useless to give one's names, for we are unknown to your master.
Klostivitch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We wish to see M. Vladimir Klostivitch on private affairs," replied the Sub.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading "We wish to see M. Vladimir Klostivitch on private affairs," replied the Sub.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading "It is useless to give one's names, for we are unknown to your master.
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "We wish to see M. Vladimir Klostivitch on private affairs," replied the Sub.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is useless to give one's names, for we are unknown to your master.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading "We wish to see M. Vladimir Klostivitch on private affairs," replied the Sub.
quaveringadjectiveUS /ˈkweɪvərɪŋ/
(of the voice) quivering as from weakness or fear
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "We wish to see M. Vladimir Klostivitch on private affairs," replied the Sub.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "We wish to see M. Vladimir Klostivitch on private affairs," replied the Sub.
SubverbUS /sʌb/
be a substitute
From this reading "We wish to see M. Vladimir Klostivitch on private affairs," replied the Sub.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You can inform him that we are comrades from England."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "We wish to see M. Vladimir Klostivitch on private affairs," replied the Sub.
not known
From this reading "It is useless to give one's names, for we are unknown to your master.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading "It is useless to give one's names, for we are unknown to your master.
Vladimir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We wish to see M. Vladimir Klostivitch on private affairs," replied the Sub.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We wish to see M. Vladimir Klostivitch on private affairs," replied the Sub.
at the time that
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
white-hairedadjective
showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
which person or people
From this reading When the Light Failed After considerable delay the door was opened ajar by a diminutive, white-haired old man, who demanded in a quavering voice the names and business of the callers.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading "We wish to see M. Vladimir Klostivitch on private affairs," replied the Sub.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You can inform him that we are comrades from England."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "It is useless to give one's names, for we are unknown to your master.
