adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
acceptedadjectiveUS /ækˈseptɪd/
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I have seldom been more taciturn in my life.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I could have sworn it was not there five minutes before.
brightenedverbUS /ˈbraɪtənd/
past form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could have sworn it was not there five minutes before.
diamondnounUS /ˈdaɪmənd/
a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
disappointedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
discreetadjectiveUS /dɪˈskriːt/
marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint
From this reading I was invited to guess the figure, but I shook a discreet head.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
expatiated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading I was invited to guess the figure, but I shook a discreet head.
fingerverbUS /ˈfɪŋɡər/
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
fivenounUS /faɪv/
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading I could have sworn it was not there five minutes before.
flashedverbUS /flæʃt/
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
guessverbUS /ɡes/
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading I was invited to guess the figure, but I shook a discreet head.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I could have sworn it was not there five minutes before.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading I was invited to guess the figure, but I shook a discreet head.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I could have sworn it was not there five minutes before.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I have seldom been more taciturn in my life.
invitedverbUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪtəd/
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading I was invited to guess the figure, but I shook a discreet head.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I could have sworn it was not there five minutes before.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I have seldom been more taciturn in my life.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading I could have sworn it was not there five minutes before.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading I have seldom been more taciturn in my life.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I have seldom been more taciturn in my life.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I could have sworn it was not there five minutes before.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
pricenounUS /praɪs/
the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
RafflesnounUS /ˈræfəlz/
British colonial administrator who founded Singapore (1781-1826)
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
rightadverbUS /raɪt/
precisely, exactly
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
ringverbUS /rɪŋ/
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
seldomadverbUS /ˈseldəm/
not often
From this reading I have seldom been more taciturn in my life.
shooknounUS /ʃʊk/
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading I was invited to guess the figure, but I shook a discreet head.
swornadjectiveUS /swɔːrn/
bound by or as if by an oath
From this reading I could have sworn it was not there five minutes before.
taciturnadjectiveUS /ˈtæsɪtɜːrn/
habitually reserved and uncommunicative
From this reading I have seldom been more taciturn in my life.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading I could have sworn it was not there five minutes before.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I was invited to guess the figure, but I shook a discreet head.
tradesmannoun
a merchant who owns or manages a shop
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Raffles held his right hand under the electric light, and a diamond ring flashed upon his little finger.
valuenounUS /ˈvæljuː/
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading The tradesman had a disappointed face, but for a moment it brightened as he expatiated on the value of that ring and on the price his people had accepted for it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I could have sworn it was not there five minutes before.
