used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading “Well, Mr. Howard,” she said presently, being no longer able to contain herself, “the plot thickens.”
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading Howard coughed, artificially it must be admitted.
acted upon; influenced
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Howard folded his arms and stared at the cornice.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Mr. Howard folded his arms and stared at the cornice.
artificiallyadverbUS /ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəli/
not according to nature; not by natural means
From this reading Howard coughed, artificially it must be admitted.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mr. Howard folded his arms and stared at the cornice.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Howard coughed, artificially it must be admitted.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “Well, Mr. Howard,” she said presently, being no longer able to contain herself, “the plot thickens.”
comprehendverbUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhend/
get the meaning of something
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
constablenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəbəl/
a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff
From this reading The sombre silence in which the constable departed endured for some time.
containverbUS /kənˈteɪn/
include or contain; have as a component
From this reading “Well, Mr. Howard,” she said presently, being no longer able to contain herself, “the plot thickens.”
cornicenoun
a decorative framework to conceal curtain fixtures at the top of a window casing
From this reading Mr. Howard folded his arms and stared at the cornice.
coughedverbUS /kɔːft/
past form of “cough” — exhale abruptly, as when one has a chest cold or congestion
From this reading Howard coughed, artificially it must be admitted.
well in the past; former
From this reading The sombre silence in which the constable departed endured for some time.
enduredverbUS /enˈdjʊrd/
past form of “endure” — put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading The sombre silence in which the constable departed endured for some time.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading Mr. Howard folded his arms and stared at the cornice.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The sombre silence in which the constable departed endured for some time.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading “Well, Mr. Howard,” she said presently, being no longer able to contain herself, “the plot thickens.”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Howard folded his arms and stared at the cornice.
HowardnounUS /ˈhaʊərd/
English actor of stage and screen (1893-1943)
From this reading Mr. Howard folded his arms and stared at the cornice.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sombre silence in which the constable departed endured for some time.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Howard coughed, artificially it must be admitted.
for more time
From this reading “Well, Mr. Howard,” she said presently, being no longer able to contain herself, “the plot thickens.”
mockingadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːkɪŋ/
abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Howard folded his arms and stared at the cornice.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Howard coughed, artificially it must be admitted.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
not any; not one
From this reading “Well, Mr. Howard,” she said presently, being no longer able to contain herself, “the plot thickens.”
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
plotnounUS /plɑːt/
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
From this reading “Well, Mr. Howard,” she said presently, being no longer able to contain herself, “the plot thickens.”
in the near future
From this reading “Well, Mr. Howard,” she said presently, being no longer able to contain herself, “the plot thickens.”
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Well, Mr. Howard,” she said presently, being no longer able to contain herself, “the plot thickens.”
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Well, Mr. Howard,” she said presently, being no longer able to contain herself, “the plot thickens.”
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The sombre silence in which the constable departed endured for some time.
sombreadjective
lacking brightness or color; dull
From this reading The sombre silence in which the constable departed endured for some time.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The sombre silence in which the constable departed endured for some time.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Mr. Howard folded his arms and stared at the cornice.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sombre silence in which the constable departed endured for some time.
thickensverbUS /ˈθɪkənz/
third-person singular of “thicken” — make thick or thicker
From this reading “Well, Mr. Howard,” she said presently, being no longer able to contain herself, “the plot thickens.”
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The sombre silence in which the constable departed endured for some time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well, Mr. Howard,” she said presently, being no longer able to contain herself, “the plot thickens.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The sombre silence in which the constable departed endured for some time.
Witherby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Witherby gleamed upon him, in a mocking triumph which he affected neither to see nor to comprehend the reason for.
