used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another girl could be entering at the same time.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another girl could be entering at the same time.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another girl could be entering at the same time.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another girl could be entering at the same time.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
Culver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
digverbUS /dɪɡ/
turn up, loosen, or remove earth
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
DotnounUS /dɑːt/
a very small circular shape
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
a movement into or inward
From this reading Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another girl could be entering at the same time.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
apart from; not including
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading “Trying to be funny, Mr. Sprague?” inquired Dot, scathingly.
a young female
From this reading Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another girl could be entering at the same time.
the act of giving
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another girl could be entering at the same time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading “Trying to be funny, Mr. Sprague?” inquired Dot, scathingly.
KansasnounUS /ˈkænzəs/
a state in midwestern United States
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
Linda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another girl could be entering at the same time.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
manufacturedadjectiveUS /ˌmænjəˈfæktʃərd/
produced in a large-scale industrial operation
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
a particular point in time
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another girl could be entering at the same time.
newspapersnounUS /ˈnuːzpeɪpərz/
plural of “newspaper” — a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
not any; not one
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
by chance
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
by chance
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
recurring again and again
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another girl could be entering at the same time.
scathinglyadverb
in a scathing and unsparing manner
From this reading “Trying to be funny, Mr. Sprague?” inquired Dot, scathingly.
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another girl could be entering at the same time.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
Slocum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
smuglyadverbUS /ˈsmʌɡli/
in a smug manner
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
Sprague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
spurnounUS /spɜːr/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
studionounUS /ˈstuːdioʊ/
workplace for the teaching or practice of an art
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Good morning, Miss Slocum,” said Mr. Sprague, smugly, as Linda and Dot entered the studio at Culver City the following day.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another girl could be entering at the same time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another girl could be entering at the same time.
trapnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
hard to endure
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another girl could be entering at the same time.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The secretary was evidently giving her a dig; perhaps he was trying to trap her by calling her by the name which Dot had manufactured on the spur of the moment at Kansas City, and which had been repeated by the newspapers.
which person or people
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
wincedverbUS /wɪnst/
past form of “wince” — draw back, as with fear or pain
From this reading Linda winced at the name, and looked around her, to see whether another girl could be entering at the same time.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading But there was no one except a strange young man sitting in the corner, who couldn’t possibly be “Miss Slocum.”
