used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
acesnounUS /ˈeɪsɪz/
plural of “ace” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Four mysterious aces had but recently appeared in Stub Rawlings’s hand.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading BY HIS OWN HAND In the Palace bar all was merry.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading The Scanlon bank roll had been severely injured.
a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter
From this reading BY HIS OWN HAND In the Palace bar all was merry.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Scanlon bank roll had been severely injured.
bloomsnounUS /bluːmz/
plural of “bloom” — the organic process of bearing flowers
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
bossnounUS /bɑːs/
a person who exercises control over workers
From this reading The source of that handful of cards had sorely troubled the red-headed boss of the Palace.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading BY HIS OWN HAND In the Palace bar all was merry.
a game played with playing cards
From this reading The source of that handful of cards had sorely troubled the red-headed boss of the Palace.
casualadjectiveUS /ˈkæʒəwəl/
marked by blithe unconcern
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
divisible by two
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
exceptionnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃən/
a deliberate act of omission
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
the organ of sight
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
flamingadjectiveUS /ˈfleɪmɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Four mysterious aces had but recently appeared in Stub Rawlings’s hand.
frostedadjectiveUS /ˈfrɔːstəd/
(of glass) having a roughened coating resembling frost
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
the act of giving
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Four mysterious aces had but recently appeared in Stub Rawlings’s hand.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading BY HIS OWN HAND In the Palace bar all was merry.
handfulnounUS /ˈhændfʊl/
a small number or amount
From this reading The source of that handful of cards had sorely troubled the red-headed boss of the Palace.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading BY HIS OWN HAND In the Palace bar all was merry.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BY HIS OWN HAND In the Palace bar all was merry.
injuredadjectiveUS /ˈɪndʒərd/
harmed
From this reading The Scanlon bank roll had been severely injured.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading BY HIS OWN HAND In the Palace bar all was merry.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
morosenessnoun
a gloomy ill-tempered feeling
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
of an obscure nature
From this reading Four mysterious aces had but recently appeared in Stub Rawlings’s hand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading BY HIS OWN HAND In the Palace bar all was merry.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading BY HIS OWN HAND In the Palace bar all was merry.
Rawlings's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four mysterious aces had but recently appeared in Stub Rawlings’s hand.
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading Four mysterious aces had but recently appeared in Stub Rawlings’s hand.
red-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The source of that handful of cards had sorely troubled the red-headed boss of the Palace.
move by turning over or rotating
From this reading The Scanlon bank roll had been severely injured.
Scanlon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
severelyadverbUS /səˈvɪrli/
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading The Scanlon bank roll had been severely injured.
slyadjectiveUS /slaɪ/
marked by skill in deception
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
sorelyadverbUS /ˈsɔːrli/
to a great degree
From this reading The source of that handful of cards had sorely troubled the red-headed boss of the Palace.
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading The source of that handful of cards had sorely troubled the red-headed boss of the Palace.
StubnounUS /stʌb/
a short piece remaining on a trunk or stem where a branch is lost
From this reading Four mysterious aces had but recently appeared in Stub Rawlings’s hand.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The source of that handful of cards had sorely troubled the red-headed boss of the Palace.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BY HIS OWN HAND In the Palace bar all was merry.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading The source of that handful of cards had sorely troubled the red-headed boss of the Palace.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BY HIS OWN HAND In the Palace bar all was merry.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading To the casual eye Scanlon might have appeared an exception, a frosted flower in a garden of flaming blooms; but even his moroseness was giving way to a sly smile.
