used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
AndrewnounUS /ˈændruː/
(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; brother of Peter; patron saint of Scotland
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
Appleyard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
cautiousadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːʃəs/
showing careful forethought
From this reading The situation was painful and galling to his family pride; and the cautious way that Mackellar had led up to the climax had tried his patience.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
climaxnounUS /ˈklaɪmæks/
the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding
From this reading The situation was painful and galling to his family pride; and the cautious way that Mackellar had led up to the climax had tried his patience.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
deliberateadjectiveUS /dɪˈlɪbərət/
carefully thought out in advance
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
Dick'snounUS /dɪks/
possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
exasperatingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzæspəreɪtɪŋ/
extremely annoying or displeasing
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
executornounUS /ɪɡˈzekjətər/
a person appointed by a testator to carry out the terms of the will
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
eye-glasses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
a social unit living together
From this reading The situation was painful and galling to his family pride; and the cautious way that Mackellar had led up to the climax had tried his patience.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
fingeredadjectiveUS /ˈfɪŋɡərd/
having or resembling a finger or fingers; often used in combination
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
set up or found
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
gallingadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːlɪŋ/
causing irritation or annoyance
From this reading The situation was painful and galling to his family pride; and the cautious way that Mackellar had led up to the climax had tried his patience.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
gold-rimmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The situation was painful and galling to his family pride; and the cautious way that Mackellar had led up to the climax had tried his patience.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wanted the matter settled.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
interruptionnounUS /ˌɪntərˈʌpʃən/
an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
Irvine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading The situation was painful and galling to his family pride; and the cautious way that Mackellar had led up to the climax had tried his patience.
a room where books are kept
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
Mackellar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading He wanted the matter settled.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading The situation was painful and galling to his family pride; and the cautious way that Mackellar had led up to the climax had tried his patience.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading The situation was painful and galling to his family pride; and the cautious way that Mackellar had led up to the climax had tried his patience.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading The situation was painful and galling to his family pride; and the cautious way that Mackellar had led up to the climax had tried his patience.
RECKONINGnounUS /ˈrekənɪŋ/
problem solving that involves numbers or quantities
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
servant's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading He wanted the matter settled.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading The situation was painful and galling to his family pride; and the cautious way that Mackellar had led up to the climax had tried his patience.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
StaffernounUS /ˈstæfər/
an employee who is a member of a staff of workers (especially a member of the staff that works for the President of the United States)
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The situation was painful and galling to his family pride; and the cautious way that Mackellar had led up to the climax had tried his patience.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading The situation was painful and galling to his family pride; and the cautious way that Mackellar had led up to the climax had tried his patience.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The situation was painful and galling to his family pride; and the cautious way that Mackellar had led up to the climax had tried his patience.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading He wanted the matter settled.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The situation was painful and galling to his family pride; and the cautious way that Mackellar had led up to the climax had tried his patience.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Staffer leaned back in his chair as if the interruption were a relief, but Mackellar sat grim and upright, watching him.
at the time that
From this reading THE RECKONING DAY It was getting dark in the library at Appleyard, and Mackellar stopped speaking when a servant entered to light the lamps.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Irvine, the other executor of Dick's father's will, nervously fingered his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; and Andrew found the servant's deliberate movements exasperating.
