adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The three men stood for a while silently looking at each other.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
appearverbUS /əˈpɪr/
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
appointmentnounUS /əˈpɔɪntmənt/
the act of putting a person into a non-elective position
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The three men stood for a while silently looking at each other.
Bassett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading "You'd better go and make inquiry at Northborough.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
comprehendverbUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhend/
get the meaning of something
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
concernedadjectiveUS /kənˈsɜːrnd/
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
consideredadjectiveUS /kənˈsɪdərd/
carefully weighed
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
Copplestone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
decisionnounUS /dɪˈsɪʒən/
the act of making up your mind about something
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
delayverbUS /dɪˈleɪ/
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The three men stood for a while silently looking at each other.
evidentlyadverbUS /ˈevədəntli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The three men stood for a while silently looking at each other.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "You'd better go and make inquiry at Northborough.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Look here!" he said.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
inquirynounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/
a search for knowledge
From this reading "You'd better go and make inquiry at Northborough.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
keepingnounUS /ˈkiːpɪŋ/
conformity or harmony
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
knewverbUS /nuː/
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
LookverbUS /lʊk/
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Look here!" he said.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The three men stood for a while silently looking at each other.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading "You'd better go and make inquiry at Northborough.
managersnounUS /ˈmænədʒərz/
plural of “manager” — someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
mattersnounUS /ˈmætərz/
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading The three men stood for a while silently looking at each other.
metverbUS /met/
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
Northborough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You'd better go and make inquiry at Northborough.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
OlivernounUS /ˈɑːləvər/
United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The three men stood for a while silently looking at each other.
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
Rothwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Look here!" he said.
secretlyadverbUS /ˈsiːkrɪtli/
in secrecy; not openly
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
seriousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪriəs/
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
silentlyadverbUS /ˈsaɪləntli/
without speaking
From this reading The three men stood for a while silently looking at each other.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
Stafford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The three men stood for a while silently looking at each other.
strangernounUS /ˈstreɪndʒər/
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The three men stood for a while silently looking at each other.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The three men stood for a while silently looking at each other.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
waysnounUS /weɪz/
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The three men stood for a while silently looking at each other.
whynounUS /waɪ/
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But he had never met Bassett Oliver, and knew nothing of his ways; he only began to comprehend matters when Rothwell turned to Stafford with an air of decision.
wonderedverbUS /ˈwʌndərd/
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Copplestone, as a stranger, secretly wondered why the two managers seemed so concerned; to him a delay of half an hour in keeping an appointment did not appear to be quite as serious as they evidently considered it.
You'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You'd better go and make inquiry at Northborough.
