adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Quite certain, Vincent?" holding out a treasury bill with a persuasive gesture.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
announcedadjectiveUS /əˈnaʊnst/
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading "Miss Kathleen is not at home, sir," he announced.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Miss Kathleen is not at home, sir," he announced.
billnounUS /bɪl/
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading "Quite certain, Vincent?" holding out a treasury bill with a persuasive gesture.
blindnounUS /blaɪnd/
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
bric-a-bracnoun
miscellaneous curios
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading His occupation was interrupted by the return of Vincent, the butler.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His occupation was interrupted by the return of Vincent, the butler.
certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading "Quite certain, Vincent?" holding out a treasury bill with a persuasive gesture.
costlyadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːstli/
entailing great loss or sacrifice
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
disregardverbUS /ˌdɪsrɪˈɡɑːrd/
refuse to acknowledge
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
edgenounUS /edʒ/
the boundary of a surface
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
entireadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtaɪər/
constituting the full quantity or extent; complete
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
examiningverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
firmadjectiveUS /fɜːrm/
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
foundationnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
gesturenounUS /ˈdʒestʃər/
motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading "Quite certain, Vincent?" holding out a treasury bill with a persuasive gesture.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Miss Kathleen is not at home, sir," he announced.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His occupation was interrupted by the return of Vincent, the butler.
holdingnounUS /ˈhoʊldɪŋ/
the act of retaining something
From this reading "Quite certain, Vincent?" holding out a treasury bill with a persuasive gesture.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading "Miss Kathleen is not at home, sir," he announced.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
instancesnounUS /ˈɪnstənsəz/
plural of “instance” — an occurrence of something
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
interruptedadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪd/
discontinued temporarily
From this reading His occupation was interrupted by the return of Vincent, the butler.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Miss Kathleen is not at home, sir," he announced.
Kathleen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Miss Kathleen is not at home, sir," he announced.
meritsnounUS /ˈmerəts/
plural of “merit” — any admirable quality or attribute
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
MissverbUS /mɪs/
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "Miss Kathleen is not at home, sir," he announced.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Miss Kathleen is not at home, sir," he announced.
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading His occupation was interrupted by the return of Vincent, the butler.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Quite certain, Vincent?" holding out a treasury bill with a persuasive gesture.
persuasiveadjectiveUS /pərˈsweɪsɪv/
intended or having the power to induce action or belief
From this reading "Quite certain, Vincent?" holding out a treasury bill with a persuasive gesture.
PHANTOMnounUS /ˈfæn.təm/
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
piecenounUS /piːs/
a separate part of a whole
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
QuiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "Quite certain, Vincent?" holding out a treasury bill with a persuasive gesture.
replacingnounUS /rɪˈpleɪsɪŋ/
the act of furnishing an equivalent person or thing in the place of another
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
restedadjectiveUS /ˈrestəd/
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading His occupation was interrupted by the return of Vincent, the butler.
severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
SinclairnounUS /sɪnˈkler/
United States writer whose novels argued for social reform (1878-1968)
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
sirnounUS /sɜːr/
term of address for a man
From this reading "Miss Kathleen is not at home, sir," he announced.
SpencernounUS /ˈspensər/
English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
totallyadverbUS /ˈtoʊtəli/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
treasurynounUS /ˈtreʒəri/
the funds of a government or institution or individual
From this reading "Quite certain, Vincent?" holding out a treasury bill with a persuasive gesture.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
Vincent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His occupation was interrupted by the return of Vincent, the butler.
walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His occupation was interrupted by the return of Vincent, the butler.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
WhitneynounUS /ˈwɪtni/
United States inventor of the mechanical cotton gin (1765-1825)
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
WIRESnounUS /ˈwaɪərz/
plural of “wire” — ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading PHANTOM WIRES Sinclair Spencer walked up and down the Whitney drawing-room examining the costly bric-a-brac, totally blind to the merits of each piece and in several instances replacing them with entire disregard as to whether they rested on the edge, or on firm foundation.
