used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
accusationnounUS /ˌækjəˈzeɪʃən/
a formal charge of wrongdoing brought against a person; the act of imputing blame or guilt
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She waited tensely for the next sound, but it was long in coming.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading Then the talking ceased; the hall door of the inner office opened and closed quietly.
Clarke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Then the talking ceased; the hall door of the inner office opened and closed quietly.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading She waited tensely for the next sound, but it was long in coming.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
encourageverbUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒ/
contribute to the progress or growth of
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
FIRESnounUS /ˈfaɪərz/
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
guardedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɑːrdəd/
prudent
From this reading Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Then the talking ceased; the hall door of the inner office opened and closed quietly.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
located inward
From this reading Then the talking ceased; the hall door of the inner office opened and closed quietly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading She waited tensely for the next sound, but it was long in coming.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
luncheonnounUS /ˈlʌntʃən/
a midday meal
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
a form of address for a man
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
NancenounUS /næns/
offensive term for a homosexual man
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading She waited tensely for the next sound, but it was long in coming.
not any; not one
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Then the talking ceased; the hall door of the inner office opened and closed quietly.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Then the talking ceased; the hall door of the inner office opened and closed quietly.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
in the near future
From this reading Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
prodigal's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
with low volume
From this reading Then the talking ceased; the hall door of the inner office opened and closed quietly.
repentancenounUS /rɪˈpentəns/
remorse for your past conduct
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She waited tensely for the next sound, but it was long in coming.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
slammedverbUS /slæmd/
inflected form of “slam” — close violently
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading She waited tensely for the next sound, but it was long in coming.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
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 Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
tenselyadverbUS /ˈtensli/
in a tense manner
From this reading She waited tensely for the next sound, but it was long in coming.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She waited tensely for the next sound, but it was long in coming.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading For half an hour Nance heard his voice rising and falling in angry accusation; then a door slammed, and there was silence.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading She waited tensely for the next sound, but it was long in coming.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
at the time that
From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIRES When Mr. Clarke returned from luncheon, it was evident that he was in no mood to encourage a prodigal's repentance.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Presently some one began talking over the telephone in low, guarded tones, and she could not be sure which of the two it was.
