used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Thorpe evidently knew what he was about, and did not intend to let the clerk bungle the matter.
in actual fact
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
adequateadjectiveUS /ˈædəkwət/
having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
From this reading He was always meeting him in unexpected corners and places, and the cashier never seemed to have an adequate excuse for being there.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He was always meeting him in unexpected corners and places, and the cashier never seemed to have an adequate excuse for being there.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was always meeting him in unexpected corners and places, and the cashier never seemed to have an adequate excuse for being there.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He was always meeting him in unexpected corners and places, and the cashier never seemed to have an adequate excuse for being there.
bungleverbUS /ˈbʌŋɡəl/
make a mess of, destroy or ruin
From this reading Thorpe evidently knew what he was about, and did not intend to let the clerk bungle the matter.
cashiernounUS /kæˈʃɪr/
an employee of a bank who receives and pays out money
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading Thorpe evidently knew what he was about, and did not intend to let the clerk bungle the matter.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading He was always meeting him in unexpected corners and places, and the cashier never seemed to have an adequate excuse for being there.
recognizable; marked
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
a legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Thorpe evidently knew what he was about, and did not intend to let the clerk bungle the matter.
accept an excuse for
From this reading He was always meeting him in unexpected corners and places, and the cashier never seemed to have an adequate excuse for being there.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading He fancied, moreover, that the head cashier was watching him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was always meeting him in unexpected corners and places, and the cashier never seemed to have an adequate excuse for being there.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was always meeting him in unexpected corners and places, and the cashier never seemed to have an adequate excuse for being there.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
hipnounUS /hɪp/
either side of the body below the waist and above the thigh
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
horridadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəd/
exceedingly bad
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
have in mind as a purpose
From this reading Thorpe evidently knew what he was about, and did not intend to let the clerk bungle the matter.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Thorpe evidently knew what he was about, and did not intend to let the clerk bungle the matter.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Thorpe evidently knew what he was about, and did not intend to let the clerk bungle the matter.
ManagernounUS /ˈmænədʒər/
someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Thorpe evidently knew what he was about, and did not intend to let the clerk bungle the matter.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading He was always meeting him in unexpected corners and places, and the cashier never seemed to have an adequate excuse for being there.
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading He fancied, moreover, that the head cashier was watching him.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He was always meeting him in unexpected corners and places, and the cashier never seemed to have an adequate excuse for being there.
noiselesslyadverb
without a sound
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
noticingverbUS /ˈnoʊtɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “notice” — discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He was always meeting him in unexpected corners and places, and the cashier never seemed to have an adequate excuse for being there.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
cut with a saw
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He was always meeting him in unexpected corners and places, and the cashier never seemed to have an adequate excuse for being there.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He was always meeting him in unexpected corners and places, and the cashier never seemed to have an adequate excuse for being there.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
ThorpenounUS /θɔːrp/
outstanding United States athlete (1888-1953)
From this reading Thorpe evidently knew what he was about, and did not intend to let the clerk bungle the matter.
Thorpe's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading He was always meeting him in unexpected corners and places, and the cashier never seemed to have an adequate excuse for being there.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading He fancied, moreover, that the head cashier was watching him.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Thorpe evidently knew what he was about, and did not intend to let the clerk bungle the matter.
at the time that
From this reading Another time when he had decided to do the deed, the Manager did not come down to the office at all.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading And a third time, when his hand was actually in his hip pocket, he suddenly heard Thorpe's horrid whisper telling him to wait, and turning, he saw that the head cashier had entered the room noiselessly without his noticing it.
