used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His piercing glance jumped from Nicholas Jelnik's face to mine, with a prolonged and savage scrutiny.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading MAN PROPOSES The Author closed the door and leaned against it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MAN PROPOSES The Author closed the door and leaned against it.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading No detail of my appearance escaped him--my reddened eyelids, my pallor, my nervousness, my dishevelment.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "What are you doing here?" he demanded, roughly.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading MAN PROPOSES The Author closed the door and leaned against it.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading MAN PROPOSES The Author closed the door and leaned against it.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "What are you doing here?" he demanded, roughly.
detailnounUS /dɪˈteɪl/
an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
From this reading No detail of my appearance escaped him--my reddened eyelids, my pallor, my nervousness, my dishevelment.
dishevelment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No detail of my appearance escaped him--my reddened eyelids, my pallor, my nervousness, my dishevelment.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading "What are you doing here?" he demanded, roughly.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading MAN PROPOSES The Author closed the door and leaned against it.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading No detail of my appearance escaped him--my reddened eyelids, my pallor, my nervousness, my dishevelment.
eyelidsnounUS /ˈaɪlɪdz/
plural of “eyelid” — either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading No detail of my appearance escaped him--my reddened eyelids, my pallor, my nervousness, my dishevelment.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes narrowed, his jaw hardened.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His piercing glance jumped from Nicholas Jelnik's face to mine, with a prolonged and savage scrutiny.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His piercing glance jumped from Nicholas Jelnik's face to mine, with a prolonged and savage scrutiny.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading His piercing glance jumped from Nicholas Jelnik's face to mine, with a prolonged and savage scrutiny.
hardenedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdənd/
used of persons; emotionally hardened
From this reading His eyes narrowed, his jaw hardened.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What are you doing here?" he demanded, roughly.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "What are you doing here?" he demanded, roughly.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading No detail of my appearance escaped him--my reddened eyelids, my pallor, my nervousness, my dishevelment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His piercing glance jumped from Nicholas Jelnik's face to mine, with a prolonged and savage scrutiny.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading MAN PROPOSES The Author closed the door and leaned against it.
jawverbUS /dʒɔː/
talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading His eyes narrowed, his jaw hardened.
Jelnik's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His piercing glance jumped from Nicholas Jelnik's face to mine, with a prolonged and savage scrutiny.
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading His piercing glance jumped from Nicholas Jelnik's face to mine, with a prolonged and savage scrutiny.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading MAN PROPOSES The Author closed the door and leaned against it.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading MAN PROPOSES The Author closed the door and leaned against it.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading His piercing glance jumped from Nicholas Jelnik's face to mine, with a prolonged and savage scrutiny.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading No detail of my appearance escaped him--my reddened eyelids, my pallor, my nervousness, my dishevelment.
narrowedadjectiveUS /ˈneroʊd/
reduced in size as by squeezing together
From this reading His eyes narrowed, his jaw hardened.
nervousnessnounUS /ˈnɜːrvəsnəs/
the anxious feeling you have when you have the jitters
From this reading No detail of my appearance escaped him--my reddened eyelids, my pallor, my nervousness, my dishevelment.
NicholasnounUS /ˈnɪkələs/
a bishop in Asia Minor who is associated with Santa Claus (4th century)
From this reading His piercing glance jumped from Nicholas Jelnik's face to mine, with a prolonged and savage scrutiny.
not any; not one
From this reading No detail of my appearance escaped him--my reddened eyelids, my pallor, my nervousness, my dishevelment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading No detail of my appearance escaped him--my reddened eyelids, my pallor, my nervousness, my dishevelment.
pallornoun
unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)
From this reading No detail of my appearance escaped him--my reddened eyelids, my pallor, my nervousness, my dishevelment.
piercingadjectiveUS /ˈpɪrsɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading His piercing glance jumped from Nicholas Jelnik's face to mine, with a prolonged and savage scrutiny.
prolongedadjectiveUS /prəˈlɔːŋd/
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading His piercing glance jumped from Nicholas Jelnik's face to mine, with a prolonged and savage scrutiny.
PROPOSESverbUS /prəˈpoʊzɪz/
third-person singular of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading MAN PROPOSES The Author closed the door and leaned against it.
reddenedadjective
(especially of the face) reddened or suffused with or as if with blood from emotion or exertion
From this reading No detail of my appearance escaped him--my reddened eyelids, my pallor, my nervousness, my dishevelment.
roughlyadverbUS /ˈrʌfli/
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
From this reading "What are you doing here?" he demanded, roughly.
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading His piercing glance jumped from Nicholas Jelnik's face to mine, with a prolonged and savage scrutiny.
scrutinynounUS /ˈskruːtəni/
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading His piercing glance jumped from Nicholas Jelnik's face to mine, with a prolonged and savage scrutiny.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MAN PROPOSES The Author closed the door and leaned against it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His piercing glance jumped from Nicholas Jelnik's face to mine, with a prolonged and savage scrutiny.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What are you doing here?" he demanded, roughly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His piercing glance jumped from Nicholas Jelnik's face to mine, with a prolonged and savage scrutiny.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What are you doing here?" he demanded, roughly.
