used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a twinkle in Calvert’s eyes, but his voice was preternaturally solemn.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "And then——?"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Shah’s claimant was, of course, to be immediately installed in place of the deposed ruler."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Farquharson had been forced to represent, of course, that my person was in peril.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was a twinkle in Calvert’s eyes, but his voice was preternaturally solemn.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
Calvert's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a twinkle in Calvert’s eyes, but his voice was preternaturally solemn.
claimantnounUS /ˈkleɪmənt/
someone who claims a benefit or right or title
From this reading The Shah’s claimant was, of course, to be immediately installed in place of the deposed ruler."
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The Shah’s claimant was, of course, to be immediately installed in place of the deposed ruler."
deposedverbUS /dɪˈpoʊzd/
past form of “depose” — force to leave (an office)
From this reading The Shah’s claimant was, of course, to be immediately installed in place of the deposed ruler."
opinion or judgment
From this reading There was a twinkle in Calvert’s eyes, but his voice was preternaturally solemn.
Farquharson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Farquharson had been forced to represent, of course, that my person was in peril.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading "Farquharson had been forced to represent, of course, that my person was in peril.
gunboatsnounUS /ˈɡʌnboʊts/
plural of “gunboat” — a small shallow-draft boat carrying mounted guns; used by costal patrols
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Farquharson had been forced to represent, of course, that my person was in peril.
harbourverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was a twinkle in Calvert’s eyes, but his voice was preternaturally solemn.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading The Shah’s claimant was, of course, to be immediately installed in place of the deposed ruler."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Shah’s claimant was, of course, to be immediately installed in place of the deposed ruler."
installedverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɔːld/
inflected form of “instal” — set up for use
From this reading The Shah’s claimant was, of course, to be immediately installed in place of the deposed ruler."
plural of “interest” — a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
muzzlesnounUS /ˈmʌzəlz/
plural of “muzzle” — the open circular discharging end of a gun
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Shah’s claimant was, of course, to be immediately installed in place of the deposed ruler."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
perilnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading "Farquharson had been forced to represent, of course, that my person was in peril.
a human being
From this reading "Farquharson had been forced to represent, of course, that my person was in peril.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The Shah’s claimant was, of course, to be immediately installed in place of the deposed ruler."
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
preternaturallyadverb
in a supernatural manner
From this reading There was a twinkle in Calvert’s eyes, but his voice was preternaturally solemn.
shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
representverbUS /ˌreprɪˈzent/
take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to
From this reading "Farquharson had been forced to represent, of course, that my person was in peril.
rulernounUS /ˈruːlər/
a person who rules or commands
From this reading The Shah’s claimant was, of course, to be immediately installed in place of the deposed ruler."
Identical; not different.
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
Shah'snounUS /ʃɑːz/
possessive form of “shah” — title for the former hereditary monarch of Iran
From this reading The Shah’s claimant was, of course, to be immediately installed in place of the deposed ruler."
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading There was a twinkle in Calvert’s eyes, but his voice was preternaturally solemn.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Shah’s claimant was, of course, to be immediately installed in place of the deposed ruler."
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "And then——?"
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a twinkle in Calvert’s eyes, but his voice was preternaturally solemn.
ThursdaynounUS /ˈθɜːrzdeɪ/
the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Shah’s claimant was, of course, to be immediately installed in place of the deposed ruler."
twinkleverbUS /ˈtwɪŋkəl/
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading There was a twinkle in Calvert’s eyes, but his voice was preternaturally solemn.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading There was a twinkle in Calvert’s eyes, but his voice was preternaturally solemn.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Shah’s claimant was, of course, to be immediately installed in place of the deposed ruler."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
Zut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "By ten o’clock on that same Thursday night the muzzles of two British gunboats were pointing at the mouth of Zut harbour, ready to protect my interests."
