adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading I was prepared for any characterization but that.
appraisingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
art-critic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a dry-as-dust, bloodless, secular monk--" He was interrupted by a laugh from the art-critic, whose eyes were still on the portrait.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
bloodlessadjectiveUS /ˈblʌdləs/
destitute of blood or apparently so
From this reading He was a dry-as-dust, bloodless, secular monk--" He was interrupted by a laugh from the art-critic, whose eyes were still on the portrait.
brisklyadverbUS /ˈbrɪskli/
in a brisk manner
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Excuse me for my cynical mirth," he said, "but I must say he doesn't look it.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was a dry-as-dust, bloodless, secular monk--" He was interrupted by a laugh from the art-critic, whose eyes were still on the portrait.
characterizationnounUS /ˌkerəktərɪˈzeɪʃən/
a graphic or vivid verbal description
From this reading I was prepared for any characterization but that.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
codgernoun
used affectionately to refer to an eccentric but amusing old man
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
cynicaladjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪkəl/
believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a sneering disbelief in e.g. selflessness of others
From this reading "Excuse me for my cynical mirth," he said, "but I must say he doesn't look it.
doesn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Excuse me for my cynical mirth," he said, "but I must say he doesn't look it.
dry-as-dust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a dry-as-dust, bloodless, secular monk--" He was interrupted by a laugh from the art-critic, whose eyes were still on the portrait.
ExcuseverbUS /ɪksˈkjuːs/
accept an excuse for
From this reading "Excuse me for my cynical mirth," he said, "but I must say he doesn't look it.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading He was a dry-as-dust, bloodless, secular monk--" He was interrupted by a laugh from the art-critic, whose eyes were still on the portrait.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Excuse me for my cynical mirth," he said, "but I must say he doesn't look it.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was a dry-as-dust, bloodless, secular monk--" He was interrupted by a laugh from the art-critic, whose eyes were still on the portrait.
groupnounUS /ɡruːp/
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
hangingnounUS /ˈhæŋɪŋ/
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a dry-as-dust, bloodless, secular monk--" He was interrupted by a laugh from the art-critic, whose eyes were still on the portrait.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Excuse me for my cynical mirth," he said, "but I must say he doesn't look it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
interruptedadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪd/
discontinued temporarily
From this reading He was a dry-as-dust, bloodless, secular monk--" He was interrupted by a laugh from the art-critic, whose eyes were still on the portrait.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
knewverbUS /nuː/
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 The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
laughnounUS /læf/
the sound of laughing
From this reading He was a dry-as-dust, bloodless, secular monk--" He was interrupted by a laugh from the art-critic, whose eyes were still on the portrait.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
livingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
lookverbUS /lʊk/
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Excuse me for my cynical mirth," he said, "but I must say he doesn't look it.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Excuse me for my cynical mirth," he said, "but I must say he doesn't look it.
midstnounUS /mɪdst/
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
mirthnounUS /mɜːrθ/
great merriment
From this reading "Excuse me for my cynical mirth," he said, "but I must say he doesn't look it.
monknounUS /mʌŋk/
a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work
From this reading He was a dry-as-dust, bloodless, secular monk--" He was interrupted by a laugh from the art-critic, whose eyes were still on the portrait.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Excuse me for my cynical mirth," he said, "but I must say he doesn't look it.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Excuse me for my cynical mirth," he said, "but I must say he doesn't look it.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
OhnounUS /oʊ/
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was a dry-as-dust, bloodless, secular monk--" He was interrupted by a laugh from the art-critic, whose eyes were still on the portrait.
personallyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrsənəli/
as yourself
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
philosophernounUS /fəˈlɑːsəfər/
a specialist in philosophy
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
portraitnounUS /ˈpɔːrtrət/
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
preparedadjectiveUS /priˈperd/
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading I was prepared for any characterization but that.
professornounUS /prəˈfesər/
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
rhetoricnounUS /ˈretərɪk/
using language effectively to please or persuade
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Excuse me for my cynical mirth," he said, "but I must say he doesn't look it.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading "Excuse me for my cynical mirth," he said, "but I must say he doesn't look it.
secularadjectiveUS /ˈsekjələr/
of or relating to the doctrine that rejects religion and religious considerations
From this reading He was a dry-as-dust, bloodless, secular monk--" He was interrupted by a laugh from the art-critic, whose eyes were still on the portrait.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
staredverbUS /sterd/
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading He was a dry-as-dust, bloodless, secular monk--" He was interrupted by a laugh from the art-critic, whose eyes were still on the portrait.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The little group turned and stared appraisingly at the portrait hanging so close to them that it seemed another living being in their midst.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He was a dry-as-dust, bloodless, secular monk--" He was interrupted by a laugh from the art-critic, whose eyes were still on the portrait.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The rhetoric professor was asked what kind of a man the philosopher had been personally, and answered briskly: "Oh, nobody knew him personally ... the silent old codger.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading He was a dry-as-dust, bloodless, secular monk--" He was interrupted by a laugh from the art-critic, whose eyes were still on the portrait.
