adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
bellnounUS /bel/
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
doubtfullyadverb
in a doubtful manner
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
expectingverbUS /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
extensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstensɪv/
large in spatial extent or range or scope or quantity
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
frameverbUS /freɪm/
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
inquirynounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/
a search for knowledge
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
Jermyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
ladynounUS /ˈleɪdi/
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
Laverick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
lipsnounUS /lɪps/
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
obviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
particularlyadverbUS /ˌpɑːrˈtɪkjələrli/
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
partner'snounUS /ˈpɑːrtnərz/
possessive form of “partner” — a person's partner in marriage
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
pleaseverbUS /pliːz/
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
rangverbUS /ræŋ/
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
roomsnounUS /ruːmz/
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
servantnounUS /ˈsɜːrvənt/
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
somewhatadverbUS /ˈsʌmˈwʌt/
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
SquareverbUS /skwer/
make square
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
StreetnounUS /striːt/
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
suitenounUS /swiːt/
a musical composition of several movements only loosely connected
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
timidlyadverbUS /ˈtɪmədli/
in a shy or timid or bashful manner
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before he could open his lips to frame an inquiry, she had closed the door behind him.
unsavoryadjectiveUS /ənˈseɪvəri/
morally offensive
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
visitedverbUS /ˈvɪzɪtɪd/
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Square was a small one, and in a particularly unsavory neighborhood.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Laverick, who had once visited his partner’s somewhat extensive suite of rooms in Jermyn Street, rang the bell doubtfully.
Willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Will you please come this way?” she said timidly.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The door was opened almost at once, not by a servant but by a young lady who was obviously expecting him.
