used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
abashverbUS /əˈbæʃ/
cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious
From this reading Florian rose, a little abashed—though, to be sure, it took a good deal to abash Florian.
abashedadjectiveUS /əˈbæʃt/
feeling or caused to feel ill at ease or self-conscious or ashamed
From this reading Florian rose, a little abashed—though, to be sure, it took a good deal to abash Florian.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
apologynounUS /əˈpɑːlədʒiː/
an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “O Will,” she cried, spoiling all by her frank avowal, “I’m so glad you’ve come at last!
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
avowalnoun
a statement asserting the existence or the truth of something
From this reading “O Will,” she cried, spoiling all by her frank avowal, “I’m so glad you’ve come at last!
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Florian rose, a little abashed—though, to be sure, it took a good deal to abash Florian.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “O Will,” she cried, spoiling all by her frank avowal, “I’m so glad you’ve come at last!
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “O Will,” she cried, spoiling all by her frank avowal, “I’m so glad you’ve come at last!
danglingnounUS /ˈdæŋɡəlɪŋ/
the act of suspending something (hanging it from above so it moves freely)
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading Florian rose, a little abashed—though, to be sure, it took a good deal to abash Florian.
debatedverbUS /dəˈbeɪtɪd/
past form of “debate” — argue with one another
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
the act of departing
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
Deverill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
episodenounUS /ˈepəsoʊd/
a happening that is distinctive in a series of related events
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
accept an excuse for
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
Florian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading “O Will,” she cried, spoiling all by her frank avowal, “I’m so glad you’ve come at last!
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading “O Will,” she cried, spoiling all by her frank avowal, “I’m so glad you’ve come at last!
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Florian rose, a little abashed—though, to be sure, it took a good deal to abash Florian.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
hesitatingadjectiveUS /ˈhezəteɪtɪŋ/
lacking decisiveness of character; unable to act or decide quickly or firmly
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “O Will,” she cried, spoiling all by her frank avowal, “I’m so glad you’ve come at last!
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
impulsiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpʌlsɪv/
proceeding from natural feeling or impulse without external stimulus
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
inventverbUS /ˌɪnˈvent/
come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
inwardlyadverbUS /ˈɪnwərdli/
with respect to private feelings
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Florian rose, a little abashed—though, to be sure, it took a good deal to abash Florian.
immediately past
From this reading “O Will,” she cried, spoiling all by her frank avowal, “I’m so glad you’ve come at last!
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
LinnetnounUS /ˈlɪnɪt/
small finch originally of the western United States and Mexico
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Florian rose, a little abashed—though, to be sure, it took a good deal to abash Florian.
engage in
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
a particular point in time
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading “O Will,” she cried, spoiling all by her frank avowal, “I’m so glad you’ve come at last!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
palmnounUS /pɑːm/
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
plausibleadjectiveUS /ˈplɔːzəbəl/
apparently reasonable and credible, and therefore convincing
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Florian rose, a little abashed—though, to be sure, it took a good deal to abash Florian.
done under pressure
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
scribblingverbUS /ˈskrɪbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “scribble” — write down quickly without much attention to detail
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “O Will,” she cried, spoiling all by her frank avowal, “I’m so glad you’ve come at last!
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “O Will,” she cried, spoiling all by her frank avowal, “I’m so glad you’ve come at last!
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
spoilingnounUS /ˈspɔɪlɪŋ/
the process of becoming spoiled
From this reading “O Will,” she cried, spoiling all by her frank avowal, “I’m so glad you’ve come at last!
spurnounUS /spɜːr/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
suitableadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtəbəl/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Florian rose, a little abashed—though, to be sure, it took a good deal to abash Florian.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
in or at that place or location
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Florian rose, a little abashed—though, to be sure, it took a good deal to abash Florian.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Florian rose, a little abashed—though, to be sure, it took a good deal to abash Florian.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Florian rose, a little abashed—though, to be sure, it took a good deal to abash Florian.
unfinishedadjectiveUS /ənˈfɪnɪʃt/
not brought to the desired final state
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
versionnounUS /ˈvɜːrʒən/
an interpretation of a matter from a particular viewpoint
From this reading But before he could make up his mind to a suitable story, Linnet—that impulsive southern Linnet—had rushed forward, all eager, with her own version of the episode.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading BY AUTHORITY As Florian sat there, scribbling off a few lines of apology for their hasty departure, the door opened of a sudden—and Will Deverill entered.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He stood by the desk, hesitating, with his unfinished letter dangling idly in his hand, while he debated inwardly what plausible lie he could invent on the spur of the moment and palm off to excuse himself.
you've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “O Will,” she cried, spoiling all by her frank avowal, “I’m so glad you’ve come at last!
