used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
accostedverbUS /əˈkɑːstɪd/
past form of “accost” — speak to someone
From this reading He was getting out of his car when a brace of eager reporters accosted him.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
ANNOYEDadjectiveUS /əˈnɔɪd/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
ASHTON-KIRK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
Ashton-Kirk's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
earlier than; in front of
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
braceverbUS /breɪs/
prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult
From this reading He was getting out of his car when a brace of eager reporters accosted him.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
curbnounUS /kɜːrb/
an edge between a sidewalk and a roadway consisting of a line of curbstones (usually forming part of a gutter)
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading He was getting out of his car when a brace of eager reporters accosted him.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading He was getting out of his car when a brace of eager reporters accosted him.
glidedverbUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/
past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Plain-clothes men," he murmured, "and at watch upon the house.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was getting out of his car when a brace of eager reporters accosted him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was getting out of his car when a brace of eager reporters accosted him.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
investigatornounUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪtər/
a scientist who devotes himself to doing research
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
the force of workers available
From this reading "Plain-clothes men," he murmured, "and at watch upon the house.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading "Plain-clothes men," he murmured, "and at watch upon the house.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
not one, and not any
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
the middle of the day
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was getting out of his car when a brace of eager reporters accosted him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He was getting out of his car when a brace of eager reporters accosted him.
Plain-clothes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Plain-clothes men," he murmured, "and at watch upon the house.
reportersnounUS /rɪˈpɔːrtərz/
plural of “reporter” — a person who investigates and reports or edits news stories
From this reading He was getting out of his car when a brace of eager reporters accosted him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
in the near future
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "Plain-clothes men," he murmured, "and at watch upon the house.
ValenounUS /veɪl/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading ASHTON-KIRK IS ANNOYED On the following day, at about noon, Ashton-Kirk's big French car glided up to the curb before the Vale house.
Vale's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That means that this matter can be brought to an end none too soon for Miss Vale's comfort."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was getting out of his car when a brace of eager reporters accosted him.
look attentively
From this reading "Plain-clothes men," he murmured, "and at watch upon the house.
past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
at the time that
From this reading He was getting out of his car when a brace of eager reporters accosted him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A man with a thick neck and a small head nodded to the investigator; another waved a hand from across the street.
