used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AFTER DINNER When the Secretary entered the drawing-room he received a distinct shock of surprise.
AFTERprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading AFTER DINNER When the Secretary entered the drawing-room he received a distinct shock of surprise.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had seen them once before when they and their owner occupied a cab together with his fair dinner partner.
any thing at all
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had seen them once before when they and their owner occupied a cab together with his fair dinner partner.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
cabnounUS /kæb/
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading He had seen them once before when they and their owner occupied a cab together with his fair dinner partner.
cheek-bones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
deep-setadjective
having a sunken area
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
deferencenounUS /ˈdefərəns/
a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading AFTER DINNER When the Secretary entered the drawing-room he received a distinct shock of surprise.
diplomaticadjectiveUS /ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk/
relating to or characteristic of diplomacy
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading AFTER DINNER When the Secretary entered the drawing-room he received a distinct shock of surprise.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER DINNER When the Secretary entered the drawing-room he received a distinct shock of surprise.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading AFTER DINNER When the Secretary entered the drawing-room he received a distinct shock of surprise.
at any time
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
eyebrowsnounUS /ˈaɪbraʊz/
plural of “eyebrow” — the arch of hair above each eye
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading He had seen them once before when they and their owner occupied a cab together with his fair dinner partner.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
forbadeverbUS /fərˈbeɪd/
inflected form of “forbid” — command against
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had seen them once before when they and their owner occupied a cab together with his fair dinner partner.
only a very short time before
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AFTER DINNER When the Secretary entered the drawing-room he received a distinct shock of surprise.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The one person in the party unknown to him was Mr. Riddle.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had seen them once before when they and their owner occupied a cab together with his fair dinner partner.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The one person in the party unknown to him was Mr. Riddle.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
a form of address for a man
From this reading The one person in the party unknown to him was Mr. Riddle.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
held or filled or in use
From this reading He had seen them once before when they and their owner occupied a cab together with his fair dinner partner.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AFTER DINNER When the Secretary entered the drawing-room he received a distinct shock of surprise.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
on one occasion
From this reading He had seen them once before when they and their owner occupied a cab together with his fair dinner partner.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The one person in the party unknown to him was Mr. Riddle.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading He had seen them once before when they and their owner occupied a cab together with his fair dinner partner.
partnernounUS /ˈpɑːrtnər/
a person's partner in marriage
From this reading He had seen them once before when they and their owner occupied a cab together with his fair dinner partner.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The one person in the party unknown to him was Mr. Riddle.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
by chance
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
a human being
From this reading The one person in the party unknown to him was Mr. Riddle.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
prominentadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːmənənt/
having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading AFTER DINNER When the Secretary entered the drawing-room he received a distinct shock of surprise.
restlessadjectiveUS /ˈrestləs/
worried and uneasy
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
restrainedadjectiveUS /riˈstreɪnd/
cool and formal in manner
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
RiddleverbUS /ˈrɪdəl/
pierce with many holes
From this reading The one person in the party unknown to him was Mr. Riddle.
express in words
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading AFTER DINNER When the Secretary entered the drawing-room he received a distinct shock of surprise.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had seen them once before when they and their owner occupied a cab together with his fair dinner partner.
shaggyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæɡi/
used of hair; thick and poorly groomed
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading AFTER DINNER When the Secretary entered the drawing-room he received a distinct shock of surprise.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
in a strange manner
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading AFTER DINNER When the Secretary entered the drawing-room he received a distinct shock of surprise.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AFTER DINNER When the Secretary entered the drawing-room he received a distinct shock of surprise.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He had seen them once before when they and their owner occupied a cab together with his fair dinner partner.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had seen them once before when they and their owner occupied a cab together with his fair dinner partner.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The one person in the party unknown to him was Mr. Riddle.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading He had seen them once before when they and their owner occupied a cab together with his fair dinner partner.
trainingnounUS /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/
activity leading to skilled behavior
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
not known
From this reading The one person in the party unknown to him was Mr. Riddle.
unnecessaryadjectiveUS /ənˈnesəseri/
not necessary
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The one person in the party unknown to him was Mr. Riddle.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
at the time that
From this reading AFTER DINNER When the Secretary entered the drawing-room he received a distinct shock of surprise.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading He was on the point of saying so to her, but restrained himself, he hardly knew why, in deference, perhaps, to his diplomatic training, which forbade him ever to say anything unnecessary.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had seen them once before when they and their owner occupied a cab together with his fair dinner partner.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet those high cheek-bones, that prominent nose between the deep-set, restless eyes, peering out under their shaggy eyebrows, were strangely familiar.
