used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Dick, a little under-slept, a trifle red about the eyes, was shaving.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Dick, a little under-slept, a trifle red about the eyes, was shaving.
amicableadjectiveUS /ˈæmɪkəbəl/
characterized by friendship and good will
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He knew he was late for breakfast and that that would bother Cecily.
arrangementnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənt/
the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on it.
botherverbUS /ˈbɑːðər/
take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
From this reading He knew he was late for breakfast and that that would bother Cecily.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading He knew he was late for breakfast and that that would bother Cecily.
Cecily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew he was late for breakfast and that that would bother Cecily.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on it.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on it.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading He did not feel quite fit for work and the hang-over of dance tunes persisted in his head.
dependedverbUS /dɪˈpendəd/
past form of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on it.
someone who is a detective
From this reading Dick, a little under-slept, a trifle red about the eyes, was shaving.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not feel quite fit for work and the hang-over of dance tunes persisted in his head.
having the place or position changed
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on it.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Dick, a little under-slept, a trifle red about the eyes, was shaving.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading He did not feel quite fit for work and the hang-over of dance tunes persisted in his head.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading He did not feel quite fit for work and the hang-over of dance tunes persisted in his head.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He knew he was late for breakfast and that that would bother Cecily.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
hang-over
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not feel quite fit for work and the hang-over of dance tunes persisted in his head.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew he was late for breakfast and that that would bother Cecily.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He did not feel quite fit for work and the hang-over of dance tunes persisted in his head.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on it.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He did not feel quite fit for work and the hang-over of dance tunes persisted in his head.
irregularadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈreɡjələr/
contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on 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 He knew he was late for breakfast and that that would bother Cecily.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading He knew he was late for breakfast and that that would bother Cecily.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Dick, a little under-slept, a trifle red about the eyes, was shaving.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
MatthewnounUS /ˈmæθjuː/
(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally considered to be the author of the first Gospel
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
mechanismnounUS /ˈmekənɪzəm/
the atomic process that occurs during a chemical reaction
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on it.
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on it.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on it.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
persistedverbUS /pərˈsɪstɪd/
past form of “persist” — continue to exist
From this reading He did not feel quite fit for work and the hang-over of dance tunes persisted in his head.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He did not feel quite fit for work and the hang-over of dance tunes persisted in his head.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Dick, a little under-slept, a trifle red about the eyes, was shaving.
routinenounUS /ruːˈtiːn/
an unvarying or habitual method or procedure
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on it.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
shavingnounUS /ˈʃeɪvɪŋ/
the act of removing hair with a razor
From this reading Dick, a little under-slept, a trifle red about the eyes, was shaving.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He knew he was late for breakfast and that that would bother Cecily.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dick, a little under-slept, a trifle red about the eyes, was shaving.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on it.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading Dick, a little under-slept, a trifle red about the eyes, was shaving.
tunesnounUS /tuːnz/
plural of “tune” — a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading He did not feel quite fit for work and the hang-over of dance tunes persisted in his head.
under-slept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dick, a little under-slept, a trifle red about the eyes, was shaving.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dick, a little under-slept, a trifle red about the eyes, was shaving.
at the time that
From this reading He knew the mechanism of his house ought not to be disturbed when the comfort and routine of the children depended on it.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Moreover it was the first time that he and Cecily had not come home together from a party and while the arrangement was perfectly amicable at the time it was made with Matthew, it did seem a trifle irregular this morning.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He did not feel quite fit for work and the hang-over of dance tunes persisted in his head.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He knew he was late for breakfast and that that would bother Cecily.
