used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Old Bratton was touchy about mad scientists, because he was one.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading He was unique among Californians in professing absolutely no motion picture ambitions.
how long something has existed
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
ambitionsnounUS /æmˈbɪʃənz/
plural of “ambition” — a cherished desire
From this reading He was unique among Californians in professing absolutely no motion picture ambitions.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading He was unique among Californians in professing absolutely no motion picture ambitions.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
apparatusnounUS /ˌæpərˈætəs/
equipment designed to serve a specific function
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
for the reason that
From this reading Old Bratton was touchy about mad scientists, because he was one.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
Bratton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
CaliforniansnounUS /ˌkælɪˈfɔːrnjənz/
plural of “californian” — a native or resident of California
From this reading He was unique among Californians in professing absolutely no motion picture ambitions.
competentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpətɪnt/
properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
developedadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpt/
being changed over time so as to be e.g. stronger or more complete or more useful
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
directornounUS /dərˈektər/
someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
EdisonnounUS /ˈedɪsən/
United States inventor; inventions included the phonograph and incandescent electric light and the microphone and the Kinetoscope (1847-1931)
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
eightyadjectiveUS /ˈeɪti/
being ten more than seventy
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
electriciannounUS /ɪlekˈtrɪʃən/
a person who installs or repairs electrical or telephone lines
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
electricitynounUS /ɪˌlekˈtrɪsəti/
a physical phenomenon associated with stationary or moving electrons and protons
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
enigmaticadjectiveUS /ˌenɪɡˈmætɪk/
not clear to the understanding
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
at any time
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
every person
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
featuredadjectiveUS /ˈfiːtʃərd/
made a feature or highlight; given prominence
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
foolingadjectiveUS /ˈfuːlɪŋ/
characterized by a feeling of irresponsibility
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
gauntadjectiveUS /ɡɔːnt/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was unique among Californians in professing absolutely no motion picture ambitions.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
HollywoodnounUS /ˈhɑːliwʊd/
the film industry of the United States
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
a feeling of righteous anger
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
janitornounUS /ˈdʒænətər/
someone employed to clean and maintain a building
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
Karloffnoun
United States film actor (born in England) noted for his performances in horror films (1887-1969)
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
liednounUS /laɪd/
a German art song of the 19th century for voice and piano
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
LugosinounUS /luːˈɡoʊsi/
United States film actor (born in Hungary) noted for portraying monsters (1884-1956)
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
roused to anger
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading He was unique among Californians in professing absolutely no motion picture ambitions.
not any; not one
From this reading He was unique among Californians in professing absolutely no motion picture ambitions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
on one occasion
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Old Bratton was touchy about mad scientists, because he was one.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading He was unique among Californians in professing absolutely no motion picture ambitions.
professingnounUS /prəˈfesɪŋ/
an open avowal (true or false) of some belief or opinion
From this reading He was unique among Californians in professing absolutely no motion picture ambitions.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
Rathbone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
rolenounUS /roʊl/
the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
saturnineadjective
bitter or scornful
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
scientistnounUS /ˈsaɪəntɪst/
a person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
scientistsnounUS /ˈsaɪəntɪsts/
plural of “scientist” — a person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences
From this reading Old Bratton was touchy about mad scientists, because he was one.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
studionounUS /ˈstuːdioʊ/
workplace for the teaching or practice of an art
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
studiosnounUS /ˈstuːdioʊz/
plural of “studio” — workplace for the teaching or practice of an art
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
testnounUS /test/
trying something to find out about it
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
touchyadjectiveUS /ˈtʌtʃi/
quick to take offense
From this reading Old Bratton was touchy about mad scientists, because he was one.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
uniqueadjectiveUS /juːˈniːk/
radically distinctive and without equal
From this reading He was unique among Californians in professing absolutely no motion picture ambitions.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
at the time that
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Once, it is true, a director had stopped him on the street and offered to test him for a featured role, but old Bratton had refused with loud indignation when he heard that the role would be that of a mad scientist.
XCVadjective
being five more than ninety
From this reading Old Bratton, janitor at the studios of Station XCV in Hollywood, was as gaunt as Karloff, as saturnine as Rathbone, as enigmatic as Lugosi.
a late time of life
From this reading For a time he had been a studio electrician, competent though touchy; but then it developed that he had lied about his age--he was really eighty years old, and he had been fooling with electricity ever since Edison put apparatus of various sorts within the reach of everyone.
