used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he read, he smoked a cigarette.
attiredadjectiveUS /əˈtaɪrd/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She hadn't seen the night clerk before.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading THE BLACK SATCHEL When Josie reached the hotel it was nearly midnight.
a youthful male person
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/
finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading As he read, he smoked a cigarette.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
clothing in general
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
cravatnounUS /krəˈvæt/
A short, wide strip of silk fabric worn by gentlemen around the neck inside an open-collared shirt.
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
extinguishedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/
of a conditioned response; caused to die out because of the absence or withdrawal of reinforcement
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
gorgeousadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːrdʒəs/
dazzlingly beautiful
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hadn't seen the night clerk before.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading THE BLACK SATCHEL When Josie reached the hotel it was nearly midnight.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE BLACK SATCHEL When Josie reached the hotel it was nearly midnight.
jewelledadjective
covered with beads or jewels or sequins
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
Josie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLACK SATCHEL When Josie reached the hotel it was nearly midnight.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading THE BLACK SATCHEL When Josie reached the hotel it was nearly midnight.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading THE BLACK SATCHEL When Josie reached the hotel it was nearly midnight.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
novelnounUS /ˈnɑːvəl/
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading THE BLACK SATCHEL When Josie reached the hotel it was nearly midnight.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading As he read, he smoked a cigarette.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
sallow-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
SATCHELnoun
luggage consisting of a small case with a flat bottom and (usually) a shoulder strap
From this reading THE BLACK SATCHEL When Josie reached the hotel it was nearly midnight.
only a very short time before
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
scarf-pin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She hadn't seen the night clerk before.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She hadn't seen the night clerk before.
smokedadjectiveUS /smoʊkt/
(used especially of meats and fish) dried and cured by hanging in wood smoke
From this reading As he read, he smoked a cigarette.
sprawledverbUS /sprɔːld/
past form of “sprawl” — sit or lie with one's limbs spread out
From this reading Half the lights in the office had been extinguished and behind the desk, reading a novel, the night clerk sprawled in an easy chair.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BLACK SATCHEL When Josie reached the hotel it was nearly midnight.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
precisely as stated
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BLACK SATCHEL When Josie reached the hotel it was nearly midnight.
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
at the time that
From this reading THE BLACK SATCHEL When Josie reached the hotel it was nearly midnight.
a late time of life
From this reading He was a sallow-faced boy, scarcely twenty years old, attired in a very striking suit of clothes and wearing a gorgeous jewelled scarf-pin in his cravat.
