used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
agentnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənt/
an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
aide'snounUS /eɪdz/
possessive form of “aide” — an officer who acts as military assistant to a more senior officer
From this reading The secret agent made reply; and the aide's voice, now containing an eager note, demanded:
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
blastverbUS /blæst/
make a strident sound
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
complaininglyadverb
with complaints
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
being joined in close association
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading The secret agent made reply; and the aide's voice, now containing an eager note, demanded:
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading The secret agent made reply; and the aide's voice, now containing an eager note, demanded:
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
door-step
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading The secret agent made reply; and the aide's voice, now containing an eager note, demanded:
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
FullernounUS /ˈfʊlər/
United States jurist and chief justice of the United States Supreme Court (1833-1910)
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
HellonounUS /həˈloʊ/
an expression of greeting
From this reading "Hello, who is it?"
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
with impatience; in an impatient manner
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Hello, who is it?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Hello, who is it?"
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The secret agent made reply; and the aide's voice, now containing an eager note, demanded:
a particular point in time
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
a brief written record
From this reading The secret agent made reply; and the aide's voice, now containing an eager note, demanded:
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The secret agent made reply; and the aide's voice, now containing an eager note, demanded:
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
occurverbUS /əˈkɜːr/
come to pass
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
with speed
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading The secret agent made reply; and the aide's voice, now containing an eager note, demanded:
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
sleepyadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpi/
ready to fall asleep
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
suburbanadjectiveUS /səˈbɜːrbən/
relating to or characteristic of or situated in suburbs
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
tappingnounUS /ˈtæpɪŋ/
the sound of light blow or knock
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
TAXI-CAB
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In a moment he was at the telephone, and stood with impatiently tapping foot until he was connected with the number called for; then the sleepy, dry voice of Fuller said complainingly in his ear:
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading THE TAXI-CAB For a few moments after the shrill blast of the whistle filled the suburban street, the secret agent waited upon the door-step.
which person or people
From this reading "Hello, who is it?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then a thought seemed to occur to him, and with an angry exclamation he went quickly in and closed the door.
