used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His hair, usually so perfectly combed, was tousled and unkempt and his eyes were a trifle bloodshot.
in addition
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading The blinds of the window were down in this room and an electric globe over Gibson's desk furnished the only light.
bloodshotadjective
(of an eye) reddened as a result of locally congested blood vessels; inflamed
From this reading His hair, usually so perfectly combed, was tousled and unkempt and his eyes were a trifle bloodshot.
Brennan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He noticed that Brennan was also studying Gibson questioningly.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
combedadjectiveUS /koʊmd/
(of hair) made tidy with a comb
From this reading His hair, usually so perfectly combed, was tousled and unkempt and his eyes were a trifle bloodshot.
commissionernounUS /kəˈmɪʃənər/
a government administrator
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading The blinds of the window were down in this room and an electric globe over Gibson's desk furnished the only light.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The blinds of the window were down in this room and an electric globe over Gibson's desk furnished the only light.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading The blinds of the window were down in this room and an electric globe over Gibson's desk furnished the only light.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His hair, usually so perfectly combed, was tousled and unkempt and his eyes were a trifle bloodshot.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading The blinds of the window were down in this room and an electric globe over Gibson's desk furnished the only light.
GibsonnounUS /ˈɡɪbsən/
United States illustrator remembered for his creation of the “Gibson girl” (1867-1944)
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
Gibson'snounUS /ˈɡɪbsənz/
possessive form of “gibson” — United States illustrator remembered for his creation of the “Gibson girl” (1867-1944)
From this reading The blinds of the window were down in this room and an electric globe over Gibson's desk furnished the only light.
globenounUS /ɡloʊb/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading The blinds of the window were down in this room and an electric globe over Gibson's desk furnished the only light.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading His hair, usually so perfectly combed, was tousled and unkempt and his eyes were a trifle bloodshot.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The blinds of the window were down in this room and an electric globe over Gibson's desk furnished the only light.
located inward
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The blinds of the window were down in this room and an electric globe over Gibson's desk furnished the only light.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
motioningverbUS /ˈmoʊʃənɪŋ/
-ing form of “motion” — show, express or direct through movement
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
being perceived or observed
From this reading He noticed that Brennan was also studying Gibson questioningly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
and nothing more
From this reading The blinds of the window were down in this room and an electric globe over Gibson's desk furnished the only light.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The blinds of the window were down in this room and an electric globe over Gibson's desk furnished the only light.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading His hair, usually so perfectly combed, was tousled and unkempt and his eyes were a trifle bloodshot.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
questioninglyadverb
in a curious and questioning manner
From this reading He noticed that Brennan was also studying Gibson questioningly.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The blinds of the window were down in this room and an electric globe over Gibson's desk furnished the only light.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His hair, usually so perfectly combed, was tousled and unkempt and his eyes were a trifle bloodshot.
studyingnounUS /ˈstʌdiɪŋ/
reading carefully with intent to remember
From this reading He noticed that Brennan was also studying Gibson questioningly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He noticed that Brennan was also studying Gibson questioningly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The blinds of the window were down in this room and an electric globe over Gibson's desk furnished the only light.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
tousledadjective
in disarray; extremely disorderly
From this reading His hair, usually so perfectly combed, was tousled and unkempt and his eyes were a trifle bloodshot.
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading His hair, usually so perfectly combed, was tousled and unkempt and his eyes were a trifle bloodshot.
unkemptadjectiveUS /ənˈkempt/
not neatly combed
From this reading His hair, usually so perfectly combed, was tousled and unkempt and his eyes were a trifle bloodshot.
under normal conditions
From this reading His hair, usually so perfectly combed, was tousled and unkempt and his eyes were a trifle bloodshot.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As the commissioner pulled the cap from his head and seated himself at his desk, motioning them to other chairs, John was astonished by the change in his appearance.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The blinds of the window were down in this room and an electric globe over Gibson's desk furnished the only light.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Gibson carefully locked the door behind them as they entered and led them to an inner office, the door of which he also locked.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The blinds of the window were down in this room and an electric globe over Gibson's desk furnished the only light.
