used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
AdmiralnounUS /ˈædmərəl/
the supreme commander of a fleet; ranks above a vice admiral and below a fleet admiral
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Senior Lieutenant George Hanlon opened the designated door and stepped through into the next office.
any person at all
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
from appearances alone
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But Hanlon instinctively knew better, and stood stiffly at attention, awaiting the other's pleasure.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading But Hanlon instinctively knew better, and stood stiffly at attention, awaiting the other's pleasure.
awaitingverbUS /əˈweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading But Hanlon instinctively knew better, and stood stiffly at attention, awaiting the other's pleasure.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading But Hanlon instinctively knew better, and stood stiffly at attention, awaiting the other's pleasure.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Hanlon instinctively knew better, and stood stiffly at attention, awaiting the other's pleasure.
CometsnounUS /ˈkɑːməts/
plural of “comet” — (astronomy) a relatively small extraterrestrial body consisting of a frozen mass that travels around the sun in a highly elliptical orbit
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
without stop or interruption
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
DanounUS /dɑː/
an official prosecutor for a judicial district
From this reading Soon the man lowered the papers ... and Hanlon gasped, "Da...".
designatedverbUS /ˈdezɪɡneɪtɪd/
past form of “designate” — assign a name or title to
From this reading Senior Lieutenant George Hanlon opened the designated door and stepped through into the next office.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Senior Lieutenant George Hanlon opened the designated door and stepped through into the next office.
a movement into or inward
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading Soon the man lowered the papers ... and Hanlon gasped, "Da...".
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading Senior Lieutenant George Hanlon opened the designated door and stepped through into the next office.
grey-hairedadjective
showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
Hanlon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Senior Lieutenant George Hanlon opened the designated door and stepped through into the next office.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading But Hanlon instinctively knew better, and stood stiffly at attention, awaiting the other's pleasure.
intentnounUS /ˌɪnˈtent/
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Senior Lieutenant George Hanlon opened the designated door and stepped through into the next office.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But Hanlon instinctively knew better, and stood stiffly at attention, awaiting the other's pleasure.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading Senior Lieutenant George Hanlon opened the designated door and stepped through into the next office.
loweredadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərd/
below the surround or below the normal position
From this reading Soon the man lowered the papers ... and Hanlon gasped, "Da...".
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Senior Lieutenant George Hanlon opened the designated door and stepped through into the next office.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
being perceived or observed
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Senior Lieutenant George Hanlon opened the designated door and stepped through into the next office.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Senior Lieutenant George Hanlon opened the designated door and stepped through into the next office.
other's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Hanlon instinctively knew better, and stood stiffly at attention, awaiting the other's pleasure.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading But Hanlon instinctively knew better, and stood stiffly at attention, awaiting the other's pleasure.
RegionaladjectiveUS /ˈriːdʒənəl/
characteristic of a region
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
SenioradjectiveUS /ˈsiːnjər/
older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service
From this reading Senior Lieutenant George Hanlon opened the designated door and stepped through into the next office.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
in the near future
From this reading Soon the man lowered the papers ... and Hanlon gasped, "Da...".
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Senior Lieutenant George Hanlon opened the designated door and stepped through into the next office.
stifflyadverbUS /ˈstɪfli/
in a stiff manner
From this reading But Hanlon instinctively knew better, and stood stiffly at attention, awaiting the other's pleasure.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading But Hanlon instinctively knew better, and stood stiffly at attention, awaiting the other's pleasure.
studyingnounUS /ˈstʌdiɪŋ/
reading carefully with intent to remember
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Senior Lieutenant George Hanlon opened the designated door and stepped through into the next office.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Senior Lieutenant George Hanlon opened the designated door and stepped through into the next office.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
TwinnounUS /twɪn/
either of two offspring born at the same time from the same pregnancy
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading A grey-haired man, wearing the Twin Comets of a Regional Admiral, was sitting behind a desk, studying some papers.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He continued sitting thus, the papers held so they hid his face, apparently so intent on his work he had not noticed anyone entering.
