used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But I went straight to the concierge to ask about Muller.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading But I went straight to the concierge to ask about Muller.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The cruel trick would be impishly characteristic!
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I went straight to the concierge to ask about Muller.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading The cruel trick would be impishly characteristic!
conciergenounUS /ˌkɑːnsiˈerʒ/
a French caretaker of apartments or a hotel; lives on the premises and oversees people entering and leaving and handles mail and acts as janitor or porter
From this reading But I went straight to the concierge to ask about Muller.
persuaded of; very sure
From this reading This practically convinced me that Julian hadn't lied.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading The cruel trick would be impishly characteristic!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This practically convinced me that Julian hadn't lied.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
impishlyadverb
in an appealing but bold manner
From this reading The cruel trick would be impishly characteristic!
inquiringadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪərɪŋ/
given to inquiry
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
a native or inhabitant of Italy
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
JuliannounUS /ˈdʒuːliən/
Roman Emperor and nephew of Constantine; he restored paganism as the official religion of the Roman Empire and destroyed Christian temples but his decision was reversed after his death (331?-363)
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
liednounUS /laɪd/
a German art song of the 19th century for voice and piano
From this reading This practically convinced me that Julian hadn't lied.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English “Mr”
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
MullernounUS /ˈmʌlər/
Swiss chemist who synthesized DDT and discovered its use as an insecticide (1899-1965)
From this reading But I went straight to the concierge to ask about Muller.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
PadrenounUS /ˈpædreɪ/
a chaplain in one of the military services
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/
almost; nearly
From this reading This practically convinced me that Julian hadn't lied.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
successive (without a break)
From this reading But I went straight to the concierge to ask about Muller.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This practically convinced me that Julian hadn't lied.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But I went straight to the concierge to ask about Muller.
a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading The cruel trick would be impishly characteristic!
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But I went straight to the concierge to ask about Muller.
at the time that
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
which person or people
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He said that a man of that name had called the night before, inquiring for me, and had talked with "the Monsieur who looked like an Italian."
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Later, Padre, when I'd broken away from Julian, I wondered if he had made up the whole story.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The cruel trick would be impishly characteristic!
