used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “The thing is a fake,” declared Bertram.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
arguedverbUS /ˈɑːrɡjuːd/
past form of “argue” — present reasons and arguments
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
AverageadjectiveUS /ˈævərɪdʒ/
approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
a flexible container with a single opening
From this reading His trousers evinced a distinct tendency to bag at the knees, and his coat was undeniably wrinkled.
Bertram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The thing is a fake,” declared Bertram.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading His trousers evinced a distinct tendency to bag at the knees, and his coat was undeniably wrinkled.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
comparativeadjectiveUS /kəmˈperətɪv/
relating to or based on or involving comparison
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
CosmicadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːzmɪk/
of or from or pertaining to or characteristic of the cosmos or universe
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading “The thing is a fake,” declared Bertram.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
dilettantenoun
an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
disreputabilitynoun
dishonorableness by virtue of lacking respectability or a good reputation
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading His trousers evinced a distinct tendency to bag at the knees, and his coat was undeniably wrinkled.
elegantadjectiveUS /ˈeləɡənt/
refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
being one more than ten
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
evincedverbUS /ɪˈvɪnst/
past form of “evince” — give expression to
From this reading His trousers evinced a distinct tendency to bag at the knees, and his coat was undeniably wrinkled.
fakenounUS /feɪk/
something that is a counterfeit; not what it seems to be
From this reading “The thing is a fake,” declared Bertram.
flawlessadjectiveUS /ˈflɔːləs/
without a flaw
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading His usually impeccable hair was tousled.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
to a considerable degree
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His usually impeccable hair was tousled.
impeccableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpekəbəl/
without fault or error
From this reading His usually impeccable hair was tousled.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The thing is a fake,” declared Bertram.
United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
and nothing more
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading His trousers evinced a distinct tendency to bag at the knees, and his coat was undeniably wrinkled.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
phenomenaladjectiveUS /fəˈnɑːmənəl/
of or relating to a phenomenon
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
scowledverbUS /skaʊld/
past form of “scowl” — frown with displeasure
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
slumpedverbUS /slʌmpt/
past form of “slump” — assume a drooping posture or carriage
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
tendencynounUS /ˈtendənsi/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading His trousers evinced a distinct tendency to bag at the knees, and his coat was undeniably wrinkled.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “The thing is a fake,” declared Bertram.
a special situation
From this reading “The thing is a fake,” declared Bertram.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His trousers evinced a distinct tendency to bag at the knees, and his coat was undeniably wrinkled.
tossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
tousledadjective
in disarray; extremely disorderly
From this reading His usually impeccable hair was tousled.
trousersnounUS /ˈtraʊzərz/
(usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately
From this reading His trousers evinced a distinct tendency to bag at the knees, and his coat was undeniably wrinkled.
undeniablyadverbUS /ˌʌndɪˈnaɪəbli/
to an undeniable degree or in an undeniable manner
From this reading His trousers evinced a distinct tendency to bag at the knees, and his coat was undeniably wrinkled.
upheavalnounUS /əpˈhiːvəl/
a state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally)
From this reading That the elegant and flawless dilettante of the Cosmic Club should have come forth, at eleven o’clock of a morning, in such a state of comparative disreputability, argued an upheaval of mind little short of phenomenal.
under normal conditions
From this reading His usually impeccable hair was tousled.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His usually impeccable hair was tousled.
well-littered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
whereon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He slumped heavily into a chair, and scowled at Average Jones’ well-littered desk, whereon he had just tossed a sheet of paper.
wrinkledadjectiveUS /ˈrɪŋkəld/
marked by wrinkles
From this reading His trousers evinced a distinct tendency to bag at the knees, and his coat was undeniably wrinkled.
