719
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TO INTRODUCE 719 Some moments of silence followed.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Finally: “You have selected a curious moment to retire, Chief Inspector,” said the Assistant Commissioner.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
AssistantnounUS /əˈsɪstənt/
a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
bellsnounUS /belz/
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading “Your prospects were never better.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
ChiefnounUS /tʃiːf/
a person who is in charge
From this reading Finally: “You have selected a curious moment to retire, Chief Inspector,” said the Assistant Commissioner.
CommissionernounUS /kəˈmɪʃənər/
a government administrator
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
consideredadjectiveUS /kənˈsɪdərd/
carefully weighed
From this reading No doubt you have considered the question of your pension?”
countlessadjectiveUS /ˈkaʊntləs/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
createdverbUS /kriˈeɪtəd/
past form of “create” — make or cause to be or to become
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
curiousadjectiveUS /ˈkjʊriəs/
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Finally: “You have selected a curious moment to retire, Chief Inspector,” said the Assistant Commissioner.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
doubtnounUS /daʊt/
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading No doubt you have considered the question of your pension?”
EmbankmentnounUS /emˈbæŋkmənt/
a long artificial mound of stone or earth; built to hold back water or to support a road or as protection
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
FinallyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnəli/
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Finally: “You have selected a curious moment to retire, Chief Inspector,” said the Assistant Commissioner.
followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading TO INTRODUCE 719 Some moments of silence followed.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Finally: “You have selected a curious moment to retire, Chief Inspector,” said the Assistant Commissioner.
InspectornounUS /ˌɪnˈspektər/
a high ranking police officer
From this reading Finally: “You have selected a curious moment to retire, Chief Inspector,” said the Assistant Commissioner.
INTRODUCEverbUS /ˌɪntrəˈduːs/
cause to come to know personally
From this reading TO INTRODUCE 719 Some moments of silence followed.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading Finally: “You have selected a curious moment to retire, Chief Inspector,” said the Assistant Commissioner.
momentsnounUS /ˈmoʊmənts/
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading TO INTRODUCE 719 Some moments of silence followed.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “Your prospects were never better.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No doubt you have considered the question of your pension?”
noisenounUS /nɔɪz/
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TO INTRODUCE 719 Some moments of silence followed.
pavementsnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənts/
plural of “pavement” — the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
penetratedverbUS /ˈpenətreɪtɪd/
past form of “penetrate” — pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
pensionnounUS /ˈpenʃən/
a regular payment to a person that is intended to allow them to subsist without working
From this reading No doubt you have considered the question of your pension?”
prospectsnounUS /ˈprɑːspekts/
plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success
From this reading “Your prospects were never better.
questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading No doubt you have considered the question of your pension?”
retireverbUS /rɪˈtaɪr/
go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position
From this reading Finally: “You have selected a curious moment to retire, Chief Inspector,” said the Assistant Commissioner.
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Finally: “You have selected a curious moment to retire, Chief Inspector,” said the Assistant Commissioner.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading Finally: “You have selected a curious moment to retire, Chief Inspector,” said the Assistant Commissioner.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading TO INTRODUCE 719 Some moments of silence followed.
SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading TO INTRODUCE 719 Some moments of silence followed.
SoundsnounUS /saʊndz/
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
sustainedadjectiveUS /səˈsteɪnd/
maintained at length without interruption or weakening
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TO INTRODUCE 719 Some moments of silence followed.
trafficnounUS /ˈtræfɪk/
the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming and going in a particular locality during a specified period of time
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
tramnounUS /træm/
a conveyance that transports passengers or freight in carriers suspended from cables and supported by a series of towers
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
vagueadjectiveUS /veɪɡ/
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Your prospects were never better.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
whirringnounUS /ˈwɜːrɪŋ/
sound of something in rapid motion
From this reading Sounds of traffic from the Embankment penetrated dimly to the room of the Assistant Commissioner; ringing of tram bells and that vague sustained noise which is created by the whirring of countless wheels along hard pavements.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Finally: “You have selected a curious moment to retire, Chief Inspector,” said the Assistant Commissioner.
YourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Your prospects were never better.
