used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Observing his landlord’s surprised look, Benton, who was not easily disconcerted, said, “I was looking for a clothes-brush.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Did you find one?” asked Crambo.
BentonnounUS /ˈbentən/
United States artist whose paintings portrayed life in the Midwest and South (1889-1975)
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
clothes-brush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Observing his landlord’s surprised look, Benton, who was not easily disconcerted, said, “I was looking for a clothes-brush.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
Crambo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “Did you find one?” asked Crambo.
disconcertedadjective
having self-possession upset; thrown into confusion
From this reading Observing his landlord’s surprised look, Benton, who was not easily disconcerted, said, “I was looking for a clothes-brush.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Observing his landlord’s surprised look, Benton, who was not easily disconcerted, said, “I was looking for a clothes-brush.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading “Did you find one?” asked Crambo.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Observing his landlord’s surprised look, Benton, who was not easily disconcerted, said, “I was looking for a clothes-brush.
let have
From this reading I thought Grant might have one in his room.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I thought Grant might have one in his room.”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Observing his landlord’s surprised look, Benton, who was not easily disconcerted, said, “I was looking for a clothes-brush.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Observing his landlord’s surprised look, Benton, who was not easily disconcerted, said, “I was looking for a clothes-brush.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I thought Grant might have one in his room.”
and nothing more
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
landlord'snounUS /ˈlændlɔːrdz/
possessive form of “landlord” — a landowner who leases to others
From this reading Observing his landlord’s surprised look, Benton, who was not easily disconcerted, said, “I was looking for a clothes-brush.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Observing his landlord’s surprised look, Benton, who was not easily disconcerted, said, “I was looking for a clothes-brush.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Observing his landlord’s surprised look, Benton, who was not easily disconcerted, said, “I was looking for a clothes-brush.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I thought Grant might have one in his room.”
not any; not one
From this reading “No.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Observing his landlord’s surprised look, Benton, who was not easily disconcerted, said, “I was looking for a clothes-brush.
ObservingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvɪŋ/
quick to notice; showing quick and keen perception
From this reading Observing his landlord’s surprised look, Benton, who was not easily disconcerted, said, “I was looking for a clothes-brush.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I thought Grant might have one in his room.”
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Observing his landlord’s surprised look, Benton, who was not easily disconcerted, said, “I was looking for a clothes-brush.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading Observing his landlord’s surprised look, Benton, who was not easily disconcerted, said, “I was looking for a clothes-brush.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I thought Grant might have one in his room.”
on a floor above
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
which person or people
From this reading As Benton left the room, Paul Crambo, who was just coming upstairs, caught sight of him.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Did you find one?” asked Crambo.
