used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Psmith and Mike reached the desk, he was a kind of human soda-water bottle.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
the state of being absent
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading When Psmith and Mike reached the desk, he was a kind of human soda-water bottle.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
unvarying in nature
From this reading Constant disappointment in this respect had rendered him decidedly jumpy.
decidedlyadverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdədli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading Constant disappointment in this respect had rendered him decidedly jumpy.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading When Psmith and Mike reached the desk, he was a kind of human soda-water bottle.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading Constant disappointment in this respect had rendered him decidedly jumpy.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
at any time
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
fizzed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fizzed over with questions, reproofs, and warnings.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Constant disappointment in this respect had rendered him decidedly jumpy.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading When Psmith and Mike reached the desk, he was a kind of human soda-water bottle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Constant disappointment in this respect had rendered him decidedly jumpy.
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
jumpyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒʌmpi/
being in a tense state
From this reading Constant disappointment in this respect had rendered him decidedly jumpy.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading When Psmith and Mike reached the desk, he was a kind of human soda-water bottle.
lairnounUS /ler/
the habitation of wild animals
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
MikenounUS /maɪk/
device for converting sound waves into electrical energy
From this reading When Psmith and Mike reached the desk, he was a kind of human soda-water bottle.
Mike'snounUS /maɪks/
possessive form of “mike” — device for converting sound waves into electrical energy
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He fizzed over with questions, reproofs, and warnings.
poppingnounUS /ˈpɑːpɪŋ/
a sharp explosive sound as from a gunshot or drawing a cork
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
Psmith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Psmith and Mike reached the desk, he was a kind of human soda-water bottle.
Psmith's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading He fizzed over with questions, reproofs, and warnings.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When Psmith and Mike reached the desk, he was a kind of human soda-water bottle.
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading Constant disappointment in this respect had rendered him decidedly jumpy.
reproofs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fizzed over with questions, reproofs, and warnings.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading Constant disappointment in this respect had rendered him decidedly jumpy.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
Rossiter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
soda-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Psmith and Mike reached the desk, he was a kind of human soda-water bottle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mr Rossiter had discovered Psmith's and Mike's absence about five minutes after they had left the building.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Constant disappointment in this respect had rendered him decidedly jumpy.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
warningsnounUS /ˈwɔːrnɪŋz/
plural of “warning” — a message informing of danger
From this reading He fizzed over with questions, reproofs, and warnings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Psmith and Mike reached the desk, he was a kind of human soda-water bottle.
at the time that
From this reading When Psmith and Mike reached the desk, he was a kind of human soda-water bottle.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Ever since then, he had been popping out of his lair at intervals of three minutes, to see whether they had returned.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He fizzed over with questions, reproofs, and warnings.
