adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
ArmstrongnounUS /ˈɑːrmstrɑːŋ/
United States astronaut; the first man to set foot on the Moon (July 20, 1969) (1930-)
From this reading THE DREADED INTERVIEW Mr. Duncan had been dreading the inevitable interview with Mr. Armstrong.
Armstrong'snounUS /ˈɑːrmstrɔːŋz/
possessive form of “armstrong” — United States astronaut; the first man to set foot on the Moon (July 20, 1969) (1930-)
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
arrivalnounUS /ərˈaɪvəl/
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading "My dear sir," he said, extending his hand and vigorously shaking the hand of his new arrival, "this is an unexpected pleasure."
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE DREADED INTERVIEW Mr. Duncan had been dreading the inevitable interview with Mr. Armstrong.
betrayedverbUS /bɪˈtreɪd/
past form of “betray” — reveal unintentionally
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
BringverbUS /brɪŋ/
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
cardnounUS /kɑːrd/
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
clear-sightedadjective
having sharp clear vision
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
conferencenounUS /ˈkɑːnfərəns/
a prearranged meeting for consultation or exchange of information or discussion (especially one with a formal agenda)
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/
dearly loved
From this reading "My dear sir," he said, extending his hand and vigorously shaking the hand of his new arrival, "this is an unexpected pleasure."
DREADEDadjectiveUS /ˈdredɪd/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading THE DREADED INTERVIEW Mr. Duncan had been dreading the inevitable interview with Mr. Armstrong.
dreadingverbUS /ˈdredɪŋ/
-ing form of “dread” — be afraid or scared of; be frightened of
From this reading THE DREADED INTERVIEW Mr. Duncan had been dreading the inevitable interview with Mr. Armstrong.
DuncannounUS /ˈdʌŋkən/
United States dancer and pioneer of modern dance (1878-1927)
From this reading THE DREADED INTERVIEW Mr. Duncan had been dreading the inevitable interview with Mr. Armstrong.
embarrassingadjectiveUS /ɪmˈberəsɪŋ/
hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
extendingverbUS /ɪkˈstendɪŋ/
-ing form of “extend” — extend in scope or range or area
From this reading "My dear sir," he said, extending his hand and vigorously shaking the hand of his new arrival, "this is an unexpected pleasure."
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
gentlemannounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/
a man of refinement
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE DREADED INTERVIEW Mr. Duncan had been dreading the inevitable interview with Mr. Armstrong.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "My dear sir," he said, extending his hand and vigorously shaking the hand of his new arrival, "this is an unexpected pleasure."
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
heartnounUS /hɑːrt/
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
inevitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbəl/
incapable of being avoided or prevented
From this reading THE DREADED INTERVIEW Mr. Duncan had been dreading the inevitable interview with Mr. Armstrong.
INTERVIEWverbUS /ˈɪntərvjuː/
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading THE DREADED INTERVIEW Mr. Duncan had been dreading the inevitable interview with Mr. Armstrong.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "My dear sir," he said, extending his hand and vigorously shaking the hand of his new arrival, "this is an unexpected pleasure."
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
keenadjectiveUS /kiːn/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
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 He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading THE DREADED INTERVIEW Mr. Duncan had been dreading the inevitable interview with Mr. Armstrong.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My dear sir," he said, extending his hand and vigorously shaking the hand of his new arrival, "this is an unexpected pleasure."
nervenounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
nervousnessnounUS /ˈnɜːrvəsnəs/
the anxious feeling you have when you have the jitters
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading "My dear sir," he said, extending his hand and vigorously shaking the hand of his new arrival, "this is an unexpected pleasure."
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading "My dear sir," he said, extending his hand and vigorously shaking the hand of his new arrival, "this is an unexpected pleasure."
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
servantnounUS /ˈsɜːrvənt/
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
shakingnounUS /ˈʃeɪkɪŋ/
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading "My dear sir," he said, extending his hand and vigorously shaking the hand of his new arrival, "this is an unexpected pleasure."
sharpadjectiveUS /ʃɑːrp/
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
sirnounUS /sɜːr/
term of address for a man
From this reading "My dear sir," he said, extending his hand and vigorously shaking the hand of his new arrival, "this is an unexpected pleasure."
succeededverbUS /səkˈsiːdɪd/
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DREADED INTERVIEW Mr. Duncan had been dreading the inevitable interview with Mr. Armstrong.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
tonenounUS /toʊn/
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
unexpectedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪd/
not expected or anticipated
From this reading "My dear sir," he said, extending his hand and vigorously shaking the hand of his new arrival, "this is an unexpected pleasure."
vigorouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪɡərəsli/
with vigor; in a vigorous manner
From this reading "My dear sir," he said, extending his hand and vigorously shaking the hand of his new arrival, "this is an unexpected pleasure."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE DREADED INTERVIEW Mr. Duncan had been dreading the inevitable interview with Mr. Armstrong.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one.
