used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
at or in the front
From this reading Hal knew trouble lay dead ahead.
(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 Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
with anger
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
canenounUS /keɪn/
a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
From this reading Dr. Filhiol, leaning on his cane, confronted him.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
confrontedverbUS /kənˈfrʌntəd/
past form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading Dr. Filhiol, leaning on his cane, confronted him.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Hal knew trouble lay dead ahead.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The door was flung open in no gentle manner.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Filhiol, leaning on his cane, confronted him.
Filhiol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Filhiol, leaning on his cane, confronted him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading The door was flung open in no gentle manner.
frownedverbUS /fraʊnd/
past form of “frown” — look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading The door was flung open in no gentle manner.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
Hal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
half-filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Dr. Filhiol, leaning on his cane, confronted him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Dr. Filhiol, leaning on his cane, confronted him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The door was flung open in no gentle manner.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Hal knew trouble lay dead ahead.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Hal knew trouble lay dead ahead.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading Dr. Filhiol, leaning on his cane, confronted him.
litternounUS /ˈlɪtər/
the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The door was flung open in no gentle manner.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
not any; not one
From this reading The door was flung open in no gentle manner.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Dr. Filhiol, leaning on his cane, confronted him.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The door was flung open in no gentle manner.
packingnounUS /ˈpækɪŋ/
any material used especially to protect something
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
shirt-sleeves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
SPEAKSverbUS /spiːks/
third-person singular of “speak” — express in speech
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
having a supporting base
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
suit-cases
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Hal knew trouble lay dead ahead.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
at the time that
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Standing there in shirt-sleeves, with litter and confusion of packing all about, and two half-filled suit-cases on a couple of chairs, Hal frowned angrily.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading THE DOCTOR SPEAKS Hal had been at work five minutes when he was startled by a sharp knock.
