used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
ALIBInounUS /ˈæləbaɪ/
(law) a defense by an accused person purporting to show that he or she could not have committed the crime in question
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His instinctive dislike of the man flamed into open anger and he controlled himself with an effort.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His instinctive dislike of the man flamed into open anger and he controlled himself with an effort.
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading His instinctive dislike of the man flamed into open anger and he controlled himself with an effort.
antagonisticadjectiveUS /ænˌtæɡəˈnɪstɪk/
indicating opposition or resistance
From this reading His eyes half-closed in their clash with the coldly antagonistic orbs of his host.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading One thing Lawrence had done: he had stripped from Carroll his disguise as a casual caller and settled down ominously to brass tacks.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Carroll shrugged, forced a smile--then glanced at Naomi Lawrence.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading One thing Lawrence had done: he had stripped from Carroll his disguise as a casual caller and settled down ominously to brass tacks.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
callernounUS /ˈkɔːlər/
a social or business visitor
From this reading One thing Lawrence had done: he had stripped from Carroll his disguise as a casual caller and settled down ominously to brass tacks.
CarrollnounUS /ˈkærəl/
English author; Charles Dodgson was an Oxford don of mathematics who is remembered for the children's stories he wrote under the pen name Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
casualadjectiveUS /ˈkæʒəwəl/
marked by blithe unconcern
From this reading One thing Lawrence had done: he had stripped from Carroll his disguise as a casual caller and settled down ominously to brass tacks.
clashnounUS /klæʃ/
A violent confrontation or disagreement between opposing forces or factions.
From this reading His eyes half-closed in their clash with the coldly antagonistic orbs of his host.
coldlyadverbUS /ˈkoʊldli/
lacking warmth of feeling; in a cold, unemotional manner
From this reading His eyes half-closed in their clash with the coldly antagonistic orbs of his host.
direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
controlledadjectiveUS /kənˈtroʊld/
restrained or managed or kept within certain bounds
From this reading His instinctive dislike of the man flamed into open anger and he controlled himself with an effort.
disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.
From this reading One thing Lawrence had done: he had stripped from Carroll his disguise as a casual caller and settled down ominously to brass tacks.
dislikenounUS /dɪˈslaɪk/
an inclination to withhold approval from some person or group
From this reading His instinctive dislike of the man flamed into open anger and he controlled himself with an effort.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading One thing Lawrence had done: he had stripped from Carroll his disguise as a casual caller and settled down ominously to brass tacks.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading One thing Lawrence had done: he had stripped from Carroll his disguise as a casual caller and settled down ominously to brass tacks.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading His instinctive dislike of the man flamed into open anger and he controlled himself with an effort.
essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
exceptionsnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃənz/
plural of “exception” — a deliberate act of omission
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes half-closed in their clash with the coldly antagonistic orbs of his host.
flamedverbUS /fleɪmd/
past form of “flame” — shine with a sudden light
From this reading His instinctive dislike of the man flamed into open anger and he controlled himself with an effort.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading Carroll shrugged, forced a smile--then glanced at Naomi Lawrence.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Carroll shrugged, forced a smile--then glanced at Naomi Lawrence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One thing Lawrence had done: he had stripped from Carroll his disguise as a casual caller and settled down ominously to brass tacks.
half-closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes half-closed in their clash with the coldly antagonistic orbs of his host.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His instinctive dislike of the man flamed into open anger and he controlled himself with an effort.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His instinctive dislike of the man flamed into open anger and he controlled himself with an effort.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His eyes half-closed in their clash with the coldly antagonistic orbs of his host.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading His eyes half-closed in their clash with the coldly antagonistic orbs of his host.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His eyes half-closed in their clash with the coldly antagonistic orbs of his host.
instinctiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪv/
unthinking; prompted by (or as if by) instinct
From this reading His instinctive dislike of the man flamed into open anger and he controlled himself with an effort.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading His instinctive dislike of the man flamed into open anger and he controlled himself with an effort.
LawrencenounUS /ˈlɔːrəns/
Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)
From this reading One thing Lawrence had done: he had stripped from Carroll his disguise as a casual caller and settled down ominously to brass tacks.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading His instinctive dislike of the man flamed into open anger and he controlled himself with an effort.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
NaominounUS /neɪˈoʊmi/
the mother-in-law of Ruth whose story is told in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament
From this reading Carroll shrugged, forced a smile--then glanced at Naomi Lawrence.
not any; not one
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
ominouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːmənəsli/
in an ominous manner
From this reading One thing Lawrence had done: he had stripped from Carroll his disguise as a casual caller and settled down ominously to brass tacks.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading His instinctive dislike of the man flamed into open anger and he controlled himself with an effort.
orbs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His eyes half-closed in their clash with the coldly antagonistic orbs of his host.
poiseverbUS /pɔɪz/
be motionless, in suspension
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading One thing Lawrence had done: he had stripped from Carroll his disguise as a casual caller and settled down ominously to brass tacks.
shruggedverbUS /ʃrʌɡd/
inflected form of “shrug” — raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation
From this reading Carroll shrugged, forced a smile--then glanced at Naomi Lawrence.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Carroll shrugged, forced a smile--then glanced at Naomi Lawrence.
strippedadjectiveUS /strɪpt/
having only essential or minimal features
From this reading One thing Lawrence had done: he had stripped from Carroll his disguise as a casual caller and settled down ominously to brass tacks.
tacksnounUS /tæks/
plural of “tack” — the heading or position of a vessel relative to the trim of its sails
From this reading One thing Lawrence had done: he had stripped from Carroll his disguise as a casual caller and settled down ominously to brass tacks.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading His eyes half-closed in their clash with the coldly antagonistic orbs of his host.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Carroll shrugged, forced a smile--then glanced at Naomi Lawrence.
a special situation
From this reading One thing Lawrence had done: he had stripped from Carroll his disguise as a casual caller and settled down ominously to brass tacks.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
in or at the place that
From this reading NO ALIBI Carroll was rarely thrown from a mental balance, but this was one of the exceptions to a rule of conduct where poise was essential.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His eyes half-closed in their clash with the coldly antagonistic orbs of his host.
