adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He laid the card face down and placed a paper-weight on it, as if he feared it might get away.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading At last he paused and looked at himself for a solid half-minute in the bookcase mirror across from his desk.
AFFAIRSnounUS /əˈferz/
matters of personal concern
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He laid the card face down and placed a paper-weight on it, as if he feared it might get away.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He laid the card face down and placed a paper-weight on it, as if he feared it might get away.
bookcasenounUS /ˈbʊkkeɪs/
a piece of furniture with shelves for storing books
From this reading At last he paused and looked at himself for a solid half-minute in the bookcase mirror across from his desk.
callousadjectiveUS /ˈkæləs/
emotionally hardened
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
cardnounUS /kɑːrd/
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
churchnounUS /tʃɜːrtʃ/
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
CONSTANCEnounUS /ˈkɑːnstəns/
a lake in southeastern Germany on the northern side of the Swiss Alps; forms part of the Rhine River
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
Courtney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
deathnounUS /deθ/
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading During that five minutes Mr. Courtney signed letters as solemnly as a judge pronouncing a death sentence.
desknounUS /desk/
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
directedadjectiveUS /dərˈektəd/
(often used in combination) having a specified direction
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He laid the card face down and placed a paper-weight on it, as if he feared it might get away.
driestadjectiveUS /ˈdraɪəst/
superlative of “dry” — free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During that five minutes Mr. Courtney signed letters as solemnly as a judge pronouncing a death sentence.
eyenounUS /aɪ/
the organ of sight
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He laid the card face down and placed a paper-weight on it, as if he feared it might get away.
fearedverbUS /fɪrd/
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading He laid the card face down and placed a paper-weight on it, as if he feared it might get away.
fivenounUS /faɪv/
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At last he paused and looked at himself for a solid half-minute in the bookcase mirror across from his desk.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At last he paused and looked at himself for a solid half-minute in the bookcase mirror across from his desk.
FURTHERadverbUS /ˈfɜːrðər/
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He laid the card face down and placed a paper-weight on it, as if he feared it might get away.
half-minute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last he paused and looked at himself for a solid half-minute in the bookcase mirror across from his desk.
handedadjectiveUS /ˈhændəd/
having or involving the use of hands
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading At last he paused and looked at himself for a solid half-minute in the bookcase mirror across from his desk.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
huskyadjectiveUS /ˈhʌski/
muscular and heavily built
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
INTERESTnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He laid the card face down and placed a paper-weight on it, as if he feared it might get away.
JOHNNY'SnounUS /ˈdʒɑːniz/
possessive form of “johnny” — “Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
judgeverbUS /dʒʌdʒ/
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading During that five minutes Mr. Courtney signed letters as solemnly as a judge pronouncing a death sentence.
laidadjectiveUS /leɪd/
set down according to a plan
From this reading He laid the card face down and placed a paper-weight on it, as if he feared it might get away.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading At last he paused and looked at himself for a solid half-minute in the bookcase mirror across from his desk.
lettersnounUS /ˈletərz/
the literary culture
From this reading During that five minutes Mr. Courtney signed letters as solemnly as a judge pronouncing a death sentence.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading At last he paused and looked at himself for a solid half-minute in the bookcase mirror across from his desk.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He laid the card face down and placed a paper-weight on it, as if he feared it might get away.
minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading At last he paused and looked at himself for a solid half-minute in the bookcase mirror across from his desk.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
MortonnounUS /ˈmɔːrtən/
United States jazz musician who moved from ragtime to New Orleans jazz (1885-1941)
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
paper-weight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He laid the card face down and placed a paper-weight on it, as if he feared it might get away.
pausedverbUS /pɔːzd/
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading At last he paused and looked at himself for a solid half-minute in the bookcase mirror across from his desk.
placedadjectiveUS /pleɪst/
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading He laid the card face down and placed a paper-weight on it, as if he feared it might get away.
pronouncingverbUS /prəˈnaʊnsɪŋ/
-ing form of “pronounce” — speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way
From this reading During that five minutes Mr. Courtney signed letters as solemnly as a judge pronouncing a death sentence.
rigidlyadverbUS /ˈrɪdʒɪdli/
in a rigid manner
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
secretarynounUS /ˈsekrəteri/
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
sentencenounUS /ˈsentəns/
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading During that five minutes Mr. Courtney signed letters as solemnly as a judge pronouncing a death sentence.
SHOWSnounUS /ʃoʊz/
plural of “show” — the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
signedadjectiveUS /saɪnd/
having a handwritten signature
From this reading During that five minutes Mr. Courtney signed letters as solemnly as a judge pronouncing a death sentence.
sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
solemnlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːləmli/
in a grave and sedate manner
From this reading During that five minutes Mr. Courtney signed letters as solemnly as a judge pronouncing a death sentence.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading At last he paused and looked at himself for a solid half-minute in the bookcase mirror across from his desk.
TellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading During that five minutes Mr. Courtney signed letters as solemnly as a judge pronouncing a death sentence.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
tonesnounUS /toʊnz/
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
WashernounUS /ˈwɑːʃər/
someone who washes things for a living
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
WednesdaynounUS /ˈwenzdi/
the fourth day of the week; the third working day
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
WHICHpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH CONSTANCE SHOWS FURTHER INTEREST IN JOHNNY'S AFFAIRS On Wednesday morning Mr. Courtney, sitting as rigidly at his desk as if he were in church, was handed the card of Morton Washer.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading He turned a callous eye on his secretary and, in his driest and most husky tones, directed: "Tell Mr. Washer I will see him in five minutes."
