used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading He looked away from the mirror as the valet approached.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His captain's uniform--light blue--was pressed and looked as if it had just been bought.
assignmentnounUS /əˈsaɪnmənt/
a duty that you are assigned to perform (especially in the armed forces)
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He looked away from the mirror as the valet approached.
Barnes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His captain's uniform--light blue--was pressed and looked as if it had just been bought.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading His captain's uniform--light blue--was pressed and looked as if it had just been bought.
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading His captain's uniform--light blue--was pressed and looked as if it had just been bought.
captain'snounUS /ˈkæptənz/
possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading His captain's uniform--light blue--was pressed and looked as if it had just been bought.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading His mustache was neatly clipped, his face clean shaven and well talcumed.
clippedadjectiveUS /klɪpt/
cut or trimmed by clipping
From this reading His mustache was neatly clipped, his face clean shaven and well talcumed.
Colen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
crucialadjectiveUS /ˈkruːʃəl/
of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He was fastidious in everything he did.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading He was fastidious in everything he did.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His mustache was neatly clipped, his face clean shaven and well talcumed.
fastidiousadjectiveUS /fæˈstɪdiəs/
giving careful attention to detail; hard to please; excessively concerned with cleanliness
From this reading He was fastidious in everything he did.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His captain's uniform--light blue--was pressed and looked as if it had just been bought.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading His captain's uniform--light blue--was pressed and looked as if it had just been bought.
an iconic mental representation
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
invasionnounUS /ˌɪnˈveɪʒən/
the act of invading; the act of an army that invades for conquest or plunder
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His captain's uniform--light blue--was pressed and looked as if it had just been bought.
Jules
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
and nothing more
From this reading His captain's uniform--light blue--was pressed and looked as if it had just been bought.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading His captain's uniform--light blue--was pressed and looked as if it had just been bought.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading His captain's uniform--light blue--was pressed and looked as if it had just been bought.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
mustachenounUS /ˈmʌstæʃ/
an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip
From this reading His mustache was neatly clipped, his face clean shaven and well talcumed.
neatlyadverbUS /ˈniːtli/
with neatness
From this reading His mustache was neatly clipped, his face clean shaven and well talcumed.
participate in games or sport
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
compacted by ironing
From this reading His captain's uniform--light blue--was pressed and looked as if it had just been bought.
except for; apart from
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
shavenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪvən/
having the beard or hair cut off close to the skin
From this reading His mustache was neatly clipped, his face clean shaven and well talcumed.
Shratt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
silver-framed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
talcumed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mustache was neatly clipped, his face clean shaven and well talcumed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading His captain's uniform--light blue--was pressed and looked as if it had just been bought.
valetnounUS /væˈleɪ/
a manservant who acts as a personal attendant to his employer
From this reading He looked away from the mirror as the valet approached.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
produce a literary work
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
but in spite of that
From this reading Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a play which would save Earth from an invasion; he wrote well--and yet the crucial scene was-- Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror.
