used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
batteredadjectiveUS /ˈbætərd/
damaged by blows or hard usage
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading John closed the door.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading "Shut the door," said the man, without removing the cigar.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
eyedadjectiveUS /aɪd/
having an eye or eyes or eyelike feature especially as specified; often used in combination
From this reading "Who's this with you, Murphy?" the man snapped out his words and eyed John keenly.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
keenlyadverbUS /ˈkiːnli/
in a keen or penetrating way
From this reading "Who's this with you, Murphy?" the man snapped out his words and eyed John keenly.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
MurphynounUS /ˈmɜːrfi/
an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
oaknounUS /oʊk/
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
and nothing more
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Who's this with you, Murphy?" the man snapped out his words and eyed John keenly.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
protrudingadjectiveUS /proʊˈtruːdɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
removingverbUS /riˈmuːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “remove” — remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
From this reading "Shut the door," said the man, without removing the cigar.
roll-top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Shut the door," said the man, without removing the cigar.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
scarredadjectiveUS /skɑːrd/
deeply affected or marked by mental or physical pain or injury
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading "Shut the door," said the man, without removing the cigar.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
snappedverbUS /snæpt/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading "Who's this with you, Murphy?" the man snapped out his words and eyed John keenly.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
thin-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Who's this with you, Murphy?" the man snapped out his words and eyed John keenly.
unlightedadjective
not set afire or burning
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The room was small and dark, the only light coming from an electric lamp over an old-fashioned, battered roll-top desk that completely filled the wall at one end.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Between John and Murphy and the desk was a scarred oak table behind which sat a thin-faced man, an unlighted cigar protruding from a corner of his mouth.
Who's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Who's this with you, Murphy?" the man snapped out his words and eyed John keenly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Who's this with you, Murphy?" the man snapped out his words and eyed John keenly.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "Shut the door," said the man, without removing the cigar.
the words that are spoken
From this reading "Who's this with you, Murphy?" the man snapped out his words and eyed John keenly.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Who's this with you, Murphy?" the man snapped out his words and eyed John keenly.
