used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
AgencynounUS /ˈeɪdʒənsi/
an administrative unit of government
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading "Dad," she announced, "I've come to report a mysterious disappearance!"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Penny laughed as she opened her purse, disclosing an empty coin container.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading "What sort of disappearance?" he inquired cautiously.
ChristophernounUS /ˈkrɪstəfər/
Christian martyr and patron saint of travellers (3rd century)
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
coinverbUS /kɔɪn/
make up
From this reading Penny laughed as she opened her purse, disclosing an empty coin container.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Dad," she announced, "I've come to report a mysterious disappearance!"
containernounUS /kənˈteɪnər/
any object that can be used to hold things (especially a large metal boxlike object of standardized dimensions that can be loaded from one form of transport to another)
From this reading Penny laughed as she opened her purse, disclosing an empty coin container.
correspondencenounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndəns/
communication by the exchange of letters
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
DadnounUS /dæd/
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading "Dad," she announced, "I've come to report a mysterious disappearance!"
a female human offspring
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
descendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
dignifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdɪɡnəfaɪd/
having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
disappearancenounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading "Dad," she announced, "I've come to report a mysterious disappearance!"
disclosingverbUS /dɪˈskloʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “disclose” — make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
From this reading Penny laughed as she opened her purse, disclosing an empty coin container.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Penny laughed as she opened her purse, disclosing an empty coin container.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
flashingnounUS /ˈflæʃɪŋ/
a short vivid experience
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
gray-hairedadjective
showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Penny laughed as she opened her purse, disclosing an empty coin container.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dad," she announced, "I've come to report a mysterious disappearance!"
indulgentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒənt/
characterized by or given to yielding to the wishes of someone
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading "What sort of disappearance?" he inquired cautiously.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading Penny laughed as she opened her purse, disclosing an empty coin container.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
a particular point in time
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
of an obscure nature
From this reading "Dad," she announced, "I've come to report a mysterious disappearance!"
Nichols
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Penny laughed as she opened her purse, disclosing an empty coin container.
a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
pursenounUS /pɜːrs/
a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)
From this reading Penny laughed as she opened her purse, disclosing an empty coin container.
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading "Dad," she announced, "I've come to report a mysterious disappearance!"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Dad," she announced, "I've come to report a mysterious disappearance!"
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading "What sort of disappearance?" he inquired cautiously.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Dad," she announced, "I've come to report a mysterious disappearance!"
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
accept gladly
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What sort of disappearance?" he inquired cautiously.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
which person or people
From this reading Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols Detective Agency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy at his desk.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he was working and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashing an indulgent welcome.
