used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
accusinglyadverbUS /əˈkjuːzɪŋli/
in an accusing manner
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
appointmentnounUS /əˈpɔɪntmənt/
the act of putting a person into a non-elective position
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His brow was corrugated with wrinkles, and he peered suspiciously at Rand through a pair of thick-lensed, black-ribboned glasses.
baldadjectiveUS /bɔːld/
with no effort to conceal
From this reading Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
black-ribboned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His brow was corrugated with wrinkles, and he peered suspiciously at Rand through a pair of thick-lensed, black-ribboned glasses.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading His office was dark, and smelled of dusty books.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading His brow was corrugated with wrinkles, and he peered suspiciously at Rand through a pair of thick-lensed, black-ribboned glasses.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
chunkyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃʌŋki/
like or containing small sticky lumps
From this reading Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
corrugatedadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːrəɡeɪtɪd/
shaped into alternating parallel grooves and ridges
From this reading His brow was corrugated with wrinkles, and he peered suspiciously at Rand through a pair of thick-lensed, black-ribboned glasses.
the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy
From this reading Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
curvedadjectiveUS /kɜːrvd/
having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading His office was dark, and smelled of dusty books.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading His office was dark, and smelled of dusty books.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
FlemingnounUS /ˈflemɪŋ/
British writer famous for writing spy novels about secret agent James Bond (1908-1964)
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
fringenounUS /frɪndʒ/
the outside boundary or surface of something
From this reading Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
Gladys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
glassesnounUS /ˈɡlæsəz/
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading His brow was corrugated with wrinkles, and he peered suspiciously at Rand through a pair of thick-lensed, black-ribboned glasses.
Goode
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
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 Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His brow was corrugated with wrinkles, and he peered suspiciously at Rand through a pair of thick-lensed, black-ribboned glasses.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His brow was corrugated with wrinkles, and he peered suspiciously at Rand through a pair of thick-lensed, black-ribboned glasses.
Humphrey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
having much knowledge or education
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
engage in
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading His office was dark, and smelled of dusty books.
and nothing more
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading His brow was corrugated with wrinkles, and he peered suspiciously at Rand through a pair of thick-lensed, black-ribboned glasses.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading His brow was corrugated with wrinkles, and he peered suspiciously at Rand through a pair of thick-lensed, black-ribboned glasses.
pompousadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːmpəs/
puffed up with vanity
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
RandnounUS /rænd/
the basic unit of money in South Africa; equal to 100 cents
From this reading His brow was corrugated with wrinkles, and he peered suspiciously at Rand through a pair of thick-lensed, black-ribboned glasses.
retainedadjectiveUS /rɪˈteɪnd/
continued in your keeping or use or memory
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
sixty-ish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
smelledverbUS /smeld/
past form of “smell” — inhale the odor of; perceive by the olfactory sense
From this reading His office was dark, and smelled of dusty books.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
suspiciouslyadverbUS /səˈspɪʃəsli/
with suspicion
From this reading His brow was corrugated with wrinkles, and he peered suspiciously at Rand through a pair of thick-lensed, black-ribboned glasses.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
thick-lensed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His brow was corrugated with wrinkles, and he peered suspiciously at Rand through a pair of thick-lensed, black-ribboned glasses.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading His brow was corrugated with wrinkles, and he peered suspiciously at Rand through a pair of thick-lensed, black-ribboned glasses.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
at the time that
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
a Caucasian
From this reading Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading His wide mouth curved downward at the corners in an expression that was probably intended to be stern and succeeded only in being pompous.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Humphrey Goode was sixty-ish, short and chunky, with a fringe of white hair around a bald crown.
wrinklesnounUS /ˈrɪŋkəlz/
plural of “wrinkle” — a slight depression or fold in the smoothness of a surface
From this reading His brow was corrugated with wrinkles, and he peered suspiciously at Rand through a pair of thick-lensed, black-ribboned glasses.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Mr. Rand," he began accusingly, "when your secretary called to make this appointment, she informed me that you had been retained by Mrs. Gladys Fleming."
