used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
constablenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəbəl/
a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
dickensnounUS /ˈdɪkənz/
a word used in exclamations of confusion
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
eye-brows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Show him in,” said Michael.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
improveverbUS /ˌɪmˈpruːv/
to make better
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
inquisitiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkwɪzɪtɪv/
showing curiosity
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
(Old Testament) the guardian archangel of the Jews
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
not any; not one
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
puzzlingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/
not clear to the understanding
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
Sapson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading “Show him in,” said Michael.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
term of address for a man
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
thought-readernoun
someone with the power of communicating thoughts directly
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
uniformedadjectiveUS /ˈjuːnəfɔːrmd/
dressed in a uniform
From this reading Michael took the card from the uniformed constable and raised his eye-brows in surprise.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The constable made no reply, for he was neither thought-reader nor inquisitive.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Sir Ralph Sapson,” he said, “what the dickens does he want?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sir Ralph Sapson had never before called at Scotland House or showed the slightest desire to improve his acquaintance with Michael and the visit was therefore a little puzzling.
