Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
affluence
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From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
air
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From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
back
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From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
bearded
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From this reading There was a smile which was half contemptuous, half-amused, on his bearded face.
bore
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From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
brushed
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From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
certain
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From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
certainly
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From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
clothes
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From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
collar
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From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
contemptuous
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From this reading There was a smile which was half contemptuous, half-amused, on his bearded face.
Court
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From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
cut
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From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
daubed
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From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
diamond
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From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
dignity
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From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
dock
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From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
early
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From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
ease
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From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
embarrassment
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From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a smile which was half contemptuous, half-amused, on his bearded face.
fingers
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From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
forehead
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From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
gesture
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From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
goldy-brown
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From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
habit
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From this reading Rather was this a trick of habit.
hair
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From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was a smile which was half contemptuous, half-amused, on his bearded face.
half-amused
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From this reading There was a smile which was half contemptuous, half-amused, on his bearded face.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
high
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From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
hinted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was a smile which was half contemptuous, half-amused, on his bearded face.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
insolent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
mass
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From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
mud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
nervousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
night's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
North-West
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
offensively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was a smile which was half contemptuous, half-amused, on his bearded face.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
patent-leather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
permanent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
Police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
Rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rather was this a trick of habit.
revealed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
ring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
shoes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a smile which was half contemptuous, half-amused, on his bearded face.
sparkled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
temporary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a smile which was half contemptuous, half-amused, on his bearded face.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Rather was this a trick of habit.
ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
thrust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
tie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
trick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rather was this a trick of habit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a smile which was half contemptuous, half-amused, on his bearded face.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a smile which was half contemptuous, half-amused, on his bearded face.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, from time to time, his long white fingers thrust through the mass of goldy-brown hair that was brushed back from his high and narrow forehead, the gesture revealed neither nervousness nor embarrassment.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The man who stood with such an air of ease in the dock of the North-West London Police Court bore himself with a certain insolent dignity.
wore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he wore no collar or tie, and his clothes and patent-leather shoes were daubed with last night’s mud, the clothes were new and well cut; the diamond ring which he wore, and which now sparkled offensively in the early morning light, hinted most certainly at an affluence which might be temporary or permanent.
