used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading McGruder turned a rather ghastly color, murmured "Jees!" and sat down heavily on a packing box.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
announcementnounUS /əˈnaʊnsmənt/
a formal public statement
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
bewildermentnounUS /bɪˈwɪldərmənt/
confusion resulting from failure to understand
From this reading No one else evinced more than bewilderment.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading McGruder turned a rather ghastly color, murmured "Jees!" and sat down heavily on a packing box.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
Camino
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "So what?" queried Sally Camino.
clamorverbUS /ˈklæmər/
make loud demands
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading McGruder turned a rather ghastly color, murmured "Jees!" and sat down heavily on a packing box.
comprehensionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhenʃən/
an ability to understand the meaning or importance of something (or the knowledge acquired as a result)
From this reading Eli's motley guests were either slower of comprehension or else hardened to vicissitudes.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading McGruder turned a rather ghastly color, murmured "Jees!" and sat down heavily on a packing box.
one or the other of two
From this reading Eli's motley guests were either slower of comprehension or else hardened to vicissitudes.
Eli's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eli's motley guests were either slower of comprehension or else hardened to vicissitudes.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eli's motley guests were either slower of comprehension or else hardened to vicissitudes.
evincedverbUS /ɪˈvɪnst/
past form of “evince” — give expression to
From this reading No one else evinced more than bewilderment.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
ghastlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡæstli/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading McGruder turned a rather ghastly color, murmured "Jees!" and sat down heavily on a packing box.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading Eli's motley guests were either slower of comprehension or else hardened to vicissitudes.
hardenedadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrdənd/
used of persons; emotionally hardened
From this reading Eli's motley guests were either slower of comprehension or else hardened to vicissitudes.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
to a considerable degree
From this reading McGruder turned a rather ghastly color, murmured "Jees!" and sat down heavily on a packing box.
hystericaladjectiveUS /hɪˈsterɪkəl/
characterized by or arising from psychoneurotic hysteria
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
Jees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading McGruder turned a rather ghastly color, murmured "Jees!" and sat down heavily on a packing box.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
McGruder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading McGruder turned a rather ghastly color, murmured "Jees!" and sat down heavily on a packing box.
the force of workers available
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading No one else evinced more than bewilderment.
motleynounUS /ˈmɑːtli/
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading Eli's motley guests were either slower of comprehension or else hardened to vicissitudes.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading McGruder turned a rather ghastly color, murmured "Jees!" and sat down heavily on a packing box.
not any; not one
From this reading No one else evinced more than bewilderment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading McGruder turned a rather ghastly color, murmured "Jees!" and sat down heavily on a packing box.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one else evinced more than bewilderment.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Eli's motley guests were either slower of comprehension or else hardened to vicissitudes.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
outburstsnounUS /ˈaʊtbɜːrsts/
plural of “outburst” — an unrestrained expression of emotion
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
packingnounUS /ˈpækɪŋ/
any material used especially to protect something
From this reading McGruder turned a rather ghastly color, murmured "Jees!" and sat down heavily on a packing box.
queriedverbUS /ˈkwɪrid/
inflected form of “query” — pose a question
From this reading "So what?" queried Sally Camino.
on the contrary
From this reading McGruder turned a rather ghastly color, murmured "Jees!" and sat down heavily on a packing box.
witty remark
From this reading "So what?" queried Sally Camino.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading McGruder turned a rather ghastly color, murmured "Jees!" and sat down heavily on a packing box.
sloweradverbUS /ˈsloʊər/
more slowly
From this reading Eli's motley guests were either slower of comprehension or else hardened to vicissitudes.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "So what?" queried Sally Camino.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading No one else evinced more than bewilderment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Eli's motley guests were either slower of comprehension or else hardened to vicissitudes.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading McGruder turned a rather ghastly color, murmured "Jees!" and sat down heavily on a packing box.
vicissitudesnounUS /vɪˈsɪsɪtuːdz/
plural of “vicissitude” — a variation in circumstances or fortune at different times in your life or in the development of something
From this reading Eli's motley guests were either slower of comprehension or else hardened to vicissitudes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Eli's motley guests were either slower of comprehension or else hardened to vicissitudes.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "So what?" queried Sally Camino.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading In an ordinary group, such an announcement might have brought hysterical outbursts from the women and at least some kind of clamor from the men.
