used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
agitatedadjectiveUS /ˈædʒəteɪtɪd/
troubled emotionally and usually deeply
From this reading Johnny, loafing into his bedroom, a long, black, ebonite cigarette-holder between his teeth, found his man profoundly agitated.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Be cheerful,” said Johnny.
for the reason that
From this reading “I’m extremely sorry, sir, because this is the only white dress waistcoat you have.”
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading Johnny, loafing into his bedroom, a long, black, ebonite cigarette-holder between his teeth, found his man profoundly agitated.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Johnny, loafing into his bedroom, a long, black, ebonite cigarette-holder between his teeth, found his man profoundly agitated.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Johnny, loafing into his bedroom, a long, black, ebonite cigarette-holder between his teeth, found his man profoundly agitated.
buckleverbUS /ˈbʌkəl/
fasten with a buckle or buckles
From this reading “The buckle of your white dress waistcoat has in some unaccountable way disappeared,” he said in a hushed voice.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading “Be cheerful,” said Johnny.
cigarette-holder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Johnny, loafing into his bedroom, a long, black, ebonite cigarette-holder between his teeth, found his man profoundly agitated.
clothing in general
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading “The buckle of your white dress waistcoat has in some unaccountable way disappeared,” he said in a hushed voice.
put on clothes
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
ebonitenoun
a hard nonresilient rubber formed by vulcanizing natural rubber
From this reading Johnny, loafing into his bedroom, a long, black, ebonite cigarette-holder between his teeth, found his man profoundly agitated.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading “I’m extremely sorry, sir, because this is the only white dress waistcoat you have.”
set up or found
From this reading Johnny, loafing into his bedroom, a long, black, ebonite cigarette-holder between his teeth, found his man profoundly agitated.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The buckle of your white dress waistcoat has in some unaccountable way disappeared,” he said in a hushed voice.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I’m extremely sorry, sir, because this is the only white dress waistcoat you have.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Johnny, loafing into his bedroom, a long, black, ebonite cigarette-holder between his teeth, found his man profoundly agitated.
hushedadjectiveUS /hʌʃt/
in a softened tone
From this reading “The buckle of your white dress waistcoat has in some unaccountable way disappeared,” he said in a hushed voice.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m extremely sorry, sir, because this is the only white dress waistcoat you have.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “The buckle of your white dress waistcoat has in some unaccountable way disappeared,” he said in a hushed voice.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Johnny, loafing into his bedroom, a long, black, ebonite cigarette-holder between his teeth, found his man profoundly agitated.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I’m extremely sorry, sir, because this is the only white dress waistcoat you have.”
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
Johnny'snounUS /ˈdʒɑːniz/
possessive form of “johnny” — “Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
set down according to a plan
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
loafingnoun
having no employment
From this reading Johnny, loafing into his bedroom, a long, black, ebonite cigarette-holder between his teeth, found his man profoundly agitated.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Johnny, loafing into his bedroom, a long, black, ebonite cigarette-holder between his teeth, found his man profoundly agitated.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Johnny, loafing into his bedroom, a long, black, ebonite cigarette-holder between his teeth, found his man profoundly agitated.
misfortunenounUS /mɪˈsfɔːrtʃən/
unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “The buckle of your white dress waistcoat has in some unaccountable way disappeared,” he said in a hushed voice.
and nothing more
From this reading “I’m extremely sorry, sir, because this is the only white dress waistcoat you have.”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
ParkernounUS /ˈpɑːrkər/
United States saxophonist and leader of the bop style of jazz (1920-1955)
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
profoundlyadverbUS /proʊˈfaʊndli/
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading Johnny, loafing into his bedroom, a long, black, ebonite cigarette-holder between his teeth, found his man profoundly agitated.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “The buckle of your white dress waistcoat has in some unaccountable way disappeared,” he said in a hushed voice.
term of address for a man
From this reading “I’m extremely sorry, sir, because this is the only white dress waistcoat you have.”
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “The buckle of your white dress waistcoat has in some unaccountable way disappeared,” he said in a hushed voice.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading “I’m extremely sorry, sir, because this is the only white dress waistcoat you have.”
spectatornounUS /ˈspekteɪtər/
a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading Johnny, loafing into his bedroom, a long, black, ebonite cigarette-holder between his teeth, found his man profoundly agitated.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
in or at that place or location
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I’m extremely sorry, sir, because this is the only white dress waistcoat you have.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
unaccountableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈkaʊntəbəl/
not to be accounted for or explained
From this reading “The buckle of your white dress waistcoat has in some unaccountable way disappeared,” he said in a hushed voice.
valetnounUS /væˈleɪ/
a manservant who acts as a personal attendant to his employer
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “The buckle of your white dress waistcoat has in some unaccountable way disappeared,” he said in a hushed voice.
waistcoatnoun
a man's sleeveless garment worn underneath a coat
From this reading “The buckle of your white dress waistcoat has in some unaccountable way disappeared,” he said in a hushed voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “The buckle of your white dress waistcoat has in some unaccountable way disappeared,” he said in a hushed voice.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To Parker, the valet, as he laid out Johnny’s dress clothes, there was a misfortune and a tragedy deeper than any to which Johnny had been a spectator.
a Caucasian
From this reading “The buckle of your white dress waistcoat has in some unaccountable way disappeared,” he said in a hushed voice.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I’m extremely sorry, sir, because this is the only white dress waistcoat you have.”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “The buckle of your white dress waistcoat has in some unaccountable way disappeared,” he said in a hushed voice.
