adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
acridadjectiveUS /ˈæk.rɪd/
Having an unpleasantly bitter or pungent taste or smell.
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
alighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
AllegoricaladjectiveUS /ˌæləˈɡɔːrəkəl/
used in or characteristic of or containing allegory
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
AmericannounUS /əˈmerəkən/
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
beheldverbUS /biˈheld/
inflected form of “behold” — see with attention
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
bownounUS /baʊ/
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
broadadjectiveUS /brɔːd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
carefullyadverbUS /ˈkerfəli/
taking care or paying attention
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
clutchingverbUS /ˈklʌtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
comparativelyadverbUS /kəmˈperətɪvli/
in a relative manner; by comparison to something else
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
craning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
criminaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmənəl/
bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
curledadjectiveUS /kɜːrld/
(of hair) making curls or having been made to curl
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
dandifiedadjective
affecting extreme elegance in dress and manner
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
dapperadjectiveUS /ˈdæpər/
marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
dressverbUS /dres/
put on clothes
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
EnglishnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
especiallyadverbUS /əˈspeʃli/
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
excellentadjectiveUS /ˈeksələnt/
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
fairadjectiveUS /fer/
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
fish-bone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
gardennounUS /ˈɡɑːrdən/
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
gesturesnounUS /ˈdʒestʃərz/
plural of “gesture” — motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
hairnounUS /her/
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
half-conscious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
hardlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdli/
only a very short time before
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
hatnounUS /hæt/
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
JokernounUS /ˈdʒoʊkər/
a person who enjoys telling or playing jokes
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
livelyadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪvli/
full of life and energy
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
mannersnounUS /ˈmænərz/
social deportment
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
metverbUS /met/
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
middlenounUS /ˈmɪdəl/
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
monoclenounUS /ˈmɑː.nə.kəl/
A single round eyeglass kept in position by the muscles around the eye, worn by gentleman aristocrats.
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
mothnounUS /mɔːθ/
typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
movementsnounUS /ˈmuːvmənts/
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
necknounUS /nek/
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
partedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːrtɪd/
having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
PracticaladjectiveUS /ˈpræktəkəl/
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
railingsnounUS /ˈreɪlɪŋz/
plural of “railing” — a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
rememberedverbUS /rɪˈmembərd/
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
ribbonnounUS /ˈrɪbən/
any long object resembling a thin line
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
slungverbUS /slʌŋ/
inflected form of “sling” — hurl as if with a sling
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
somewhatadverbUS /ˈsʌmˈwʌt/
to a small degree or extent
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
specialistnounUS /ˈspeʃələst/
an expert who is devoted to one occupation or branch of learning
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
tienounUS /taɪ/
neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
From this reading He had a dandified monocle slung round his neck by a broad black ribbon, and a big bow tie, as if a big American moth had alighted on him.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
tricksnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
urbaneadjectiveUS /ərˈbeɪn/
showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
WarnernounUS /ˈwɔːrnər/
United States filmmaker who with his brothers founded the movie studio that produced the first talking picture (1881-1958)
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His manners were excellent, though hardly English, and he had two half-conscious tricks by which people who only met him once remembered him.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Allegorical Practical Joker The criminal specialist who had come with Dr. Warner was a somewhat more urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings and craning his neck into the garden.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading His dress and gestures were bright enough for a boy’s; it was only when you looked at the fish-bone face that you beheld something acrid and old.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading He even looked comparatively young when he took his hat off, having fair hair parted in the middle and carefully curled on each side, and lively movements, especially of the hands.
