used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading "I am here, Mr. Brent," he said, with an almost deprecating smile, "as--well, as a sort of informal deputation--informal."
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am here, Mr. Brent," he said, with an almost deprecating smile, "as--well, as a sort of informal deputation--informal."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "I am here, Mr. Brent," he said, with an almost deprecating smile, "as--well, as a sort of informal deputation--informal."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I am here, Mr. Brent," he said, with an almost deprecating smile, "as--well, as a sort of informal deputation--informal."
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
BrentnounUS /brent/
small dark geese that breed in the north and migrate southward
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
brusquest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Deputations represent somebody or something," retorted Brent, in his brusquest fashion.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
deprecatingadjectiveUS /ˈdeprəkeɪtɪŋ/
tending to diminish or disparage
From this reading "I am here, Mr. Brent," he said, with an almost deprecating smile, "as--well, as a sort of informal deputation--informal."
deputationnoun
a group of representatives or delegates
From this reading "I am here, Mr. Brent," he said, with an almost deprecating smile, "as--well, as a sort of informal deputation--informal."
Deputations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Deputations represent somebody or something," retorted Brent, in his brusquest fashion.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Whom do you represent?"
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Deputations represent somebody or something," retorted Brent, in his brusquest fashion.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
greetedverbUS /ˈɡriːtəd/
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
Hathelsborough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I am here, Mr. Brent," he said, with an almost deprecating smile, "as--well, as a sort of informal deputation--informal."
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "I am here, Mr. Brent," he said, with an almost deprecating smile, "as--well, as a sort of informal deputation--informal."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I am here, Mr. Brent," he said, with an almost deprecating smile, "as--well, as a sort of informal deputation--informal."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
informaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrməl/
not formal
From this reading "I am here, Mr. Brent," he said, with an almost deprecating smile, "as--well, as a sort of informal deputation--informal."
INTERVENEverbUS /ˌɪntərˈviːn/
get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "I am here, Mr. Brent," he said, with an almost deprecating smile, "as--well, as a sort of informal deputation--informal."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Deputations represent somebody or something," retorted Brent, in his brusquest fashion.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
the body of people in a learned occupation
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
representverbUS /ˌreprɪˈzent/
take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to
From this reading "Deputations represent somebody or something," retorted Brent, in his brusquest fashion.
past form of “retort” — answer back
From this reading "Deputations represent somebody or something," retorted Brent, in his brusquest fashion.
precisely, exactly
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I am here, Mr. Brent," he said, with an almost deprecating smile, "as--well, as a sort of informal deputation--informal."
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
sharp-eyedadjective
having very keen vision
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading "I am here, Mr. Brent," he said, with an almost deprecating smile, "as--well, as a sort of informal deputation--informal."
a person, without saying who
From this reading "Deputations represent somebody or something," retorted Brent, in his brusquest fashion.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "Deputations represent somebody or something," retorted Brent, in his brusquest fashion.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading "I am here, Mr. Brent," he said, with an almost deprecating smile, "as--well, as a sort of informal deputation--informal."
suavitynoun
the quality of being bland and gracious or ingratiating in manner
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
someone who visits
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
(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 "I am here, Mr. Brent," he said, with an almost deprecating smile, "as--well, as a sort of informal deputation--informal."
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE Brent went back to his hotel to find the Town Clerk of Hathelsborough waiting for him in his private sitting-room.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Whom do you represent?"
belonging to which person
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His visitor, a sharp-eyed man whose profession was suggested in every look and movement, greeted him with a suavity of manner which set Brent on his guard.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Whom do you represent?"
