used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I know," said he, "that I am exceedingly annoying in happening here--especially at such a time as this.
agentnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənt/
an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect
From this reading But the secret agent only smiled in return; the twinkle in his eyes was altogether humorous.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading But the secret agent only smiled in return; the twinkle in his eyes was altogether humorous.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I know," said he, "that I am exceedingly annoying in happening here--especially at such a time as this.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
annoyingadjectiveUS /əˈnɔɪɪŋ/
causing irritation or annoyance
From this reading "I know," said he, "that I am exceedingly annoying in happening here--especially at such a time as this.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
Ashton-Kirk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the secret agent only smiled in return; the twinkle in his eyes was altogether humorous.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading CAUGHT!
convinceverbUS /kənˈvɪns/
make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading "I know," said he, "that I am exceedingly annoying in happening here--especially at such a time as this.
to an extreme degree
From this reading "I know," said he, "that I am exceedingly annoying in happening here--especially at such a time as this.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
opinion or judgment
From this reading But the secret agent only smiled in return; the twinkle in his eyes was altogether humorous.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
happeningnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋ/
an event that happens
From this reading "I know," said he, "that I am exceedingly annoying in happening here--especially at such a time as this.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I know," said he, "that I am exceedingly annoying in happening here--especially at such a time as this.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "I know," said he, "that I am exceedingly annoying in happening here--especially at such a time as this.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But the secret agent only smiled in return; the twinkle in his eyes was altogether humorous.
humorousadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmərəs/
full of or characterized by humor
From this reading But the secret agent only smiled in return; the twinkle in his eyes was altogether humorous.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I know," said he, "that I am exceedingly annoying in happening here--especially at such a time as this.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But the secret agent only smiled in return; the twinkle in his eyes was altogether humorous.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I know," said he, "that I am exceedingly annoying in happening here--especially at such a time as this.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
and nothing more
From this reading But the secret agent only smiled in return; the twinkle in his eyes was altogether humorous.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading But the secret agent only smiled in return; the twinkle in his eyes was altogether humorous.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I know," said he, "that I am exceedingly annoying in happening here--especially at such a time as this.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading But the secret agent only smiled in return; the twinkle in his eyes was altogether humorous.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
not often
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading But the secret agent only smiled in return; the twinkle in his eyes was altogether humorous.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "I know," said he, "that I am exceedingly annoying in happening here--especially at such a time as this.
tasksnounUS /tæsks/
plural of “task” — any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I know," said he, "that I am exceedingly annoying in happening here--especially at such a time as this.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "I know," said he, "that I am exceedingly annoying in happening here--especially at such a time as this.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "I know," said he, "that I am exceedingly annoying in happening here--especially at such a time as this.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
twinkleverbUS /ˈtwɪŋkəl/
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading But the secret agent only smiled in return; the twinkle in his eyes was altogether humorous.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the secret agent only smiled in return; the twinkle in his eyes was altogether humorous.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The expression upon the faces of the three as they gazed at Ashton-Kirk were of mingled amazement and fear.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But, you see, we all have our tasks in life, and mine is to convince people that things are seldom what they seem."
