Chapter IX · The Perfidy of Miss Brown

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He returned his secretary’s morning greeting a little absently, and seated himself at his desk.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading He returned his secretary’s morning greeting a little absently, and seated himself at his desk.

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “More times than you, I think, Peter,” she answered.

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Violet,” he asked, “have you ever been to Paris?”

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He returned his secretary’s morning greeting a little absently, and seated himself at his desk.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Violet,” he asked, “have you ever been to Paris?”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She looked at him compassionately.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He returned his secretary’s morning greeting a little absently, and seated himself at his desk.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Violet,” he asked, “have you ever been to Paris?”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He returned his secretary’s morning greeting a little absently, and seated himself at his desk.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Violet,” he asked, “have you ever been to Paris?”

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He returned his secretary’s morning greeting a little absently, and seated himself at his desk.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading She looked at him compassionately.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He returned his secretary’s morning greeting a little absently, and seated himself at his desk.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “More times than you, I think, Peter,” she answered.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He returned his secretary’s morning greeting a little absently, and seated himself at his desk.

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She looked at him compassionately.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “More times than you, I think, Peter,” she answered.

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He returned his secretary’s morning greeting a little absently, and seated himself at his desk.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Violet,” he asked, “have you ever been to Paris?”

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading He returned his secretary’s morning greeting a little absently, and seated himself at his desk.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He returned his secretary’s morning greeting a little absently, and seated himself at his desk.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He returned his secretary’s morning greeting a little absently, and seated himself at his desk.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She looked at him compassionately.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading “More times than you, I think, Peter,” she answered.

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “More times than you, I think, Peter,” she answered.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “More times than you, I think, Peter,” she answered.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Violet,” he asked, “have you ever been to Paris?”

in the company of; together with

From this reading Peter Ruff came down to his office with a single letter in his hand, bearing a French postmark.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Violet,” he asked, “have you ever been to Paris?”