used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Captain Desfrayne selected a paper, and slowly turned over the pages as he cut them.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Gilardoni looked at him with that furtive glance Captain Desfrayne had already noticed; but replied, without seeming to hesitate:
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Captain Desfrayne selected a paper, and slowly turned over the pages as he cut them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Captain Desfrayne selected a paper, and slowly turned over the pages as he cut them.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading PLAYING AT CROSS-PURPOSES.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
uttered without voice
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Gilardoni looked at him with that furtive glance Captain Desfrayne had already noticed; but replied, without seeming to hesitate:
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Captain Desfrayne selected a paper, and slowly turned over the pages as he cut them.
carelesslyadverbUS /ˈkerləsli/
without care or concern
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
cigar-smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
CROSS-PURPOSES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PLAYING AT CROSS-PURPOSES.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Captain Desfrayne selected a paper, and slowly turned over the pages as he cut them.
Desfrayne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Desfrayne selected a paper, and slowly turned over the pages as he cut them.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
elapsedadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæpst/
(of time) having passed or slipped by
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
furtiveadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtɪv/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading Gilardoni looked at him with that furtive glance Captain Desfrayne had already noticed; but replied, without seeming to hesitate:
Gilardoni
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilardoni looked at him with that furtive glance Captain Desfrayne had already noticed; but replied, without seeming to hesitate:
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Gilardoni looked at him with that furtive glance Captain Desfrayne had already noticed; but replied, without seeming to hesitate:
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Gilardoni looked at him with that furtive glance Captain Desfrayne had already noticed; but replied, without seeming to hesitate:
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Captain Desfrayne selected a paper, and slowly turned over the pages as he cut them.
hesitateverbUS /ˈhezəteɪt/
pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading Gilardoni looked at him with that furtive glance Captain Desfrayne had already noticed; but replied, without seeming to hesitate:
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Gilardoni looked at him with that furtive glance Captain Desfrayne had already noticed; but replied, without seeming to hesitate:
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
a republic in southern Europe on the Italian Peninsula; was the core of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Gilardoni looked at him with that furtive glance Captain Desfrayne had already noticed; but replied, without seeming to hesitate:
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
being perceived or observed
From this reading Gilardoni looked at him with that furtive glance Captain Desfrayne had already noticed; but replied, without seeming to hesitate:
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Captain Desfrayne selected a paper, and slowly turned over the pages as he cut them.
plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading Captain Desfrayne selected a paper, and slowly turned over the pages as he cut them.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Captain Desfrayne selected a paper, and slowly turned over the pages as he cut them.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading PLAYING AT CROSS-PURPOSES.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading Gilardoni looked at him with that furtive glance Captain Desfrayne had already noticed; but replied, without seeming to hesitate:
seemingadjectiveUS /ˈsiːmɪŋ/
appearing as such but not necessarily so
From this reading Gilardoni looked at him with that furtive glance Captain Desfrayne had already noticed; but replied, without seeming to hesitate:
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading Captain Desfrayne selected a paper, and slowly turned over the pages as he cut them.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Captain Desfrayne selected a paper, and slowly turned over the pages as he cut them.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
spiralnounUS /ˈspaɪrəl/
a plane curve traced by a point circling about the center but at increasing distances from the center
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Gilardoni looked at him with that furtive glance Captain Desfrayne had already noticed; but replied, without seeming to hesitate:
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Captain Desfrayne selected a paper, and slowly turned over the pages as he cut them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Captain Desfrayne selected a paper, and slowly turned over the pages as he cut them.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Captain Desfrayne selected a paper, and slowly turned over the pages as he cut them.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Gilardoni looked at him with that furtive glance Captain Desfrayne had already noticed; but replied, without seeming to hesitate:
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Gilardoni looked at him with that furtive glance Captain Desfrayne had already noticed; but replied, without seeming to hesitate:
the words that are spoken
From this reading Some time elapsed before he spoke; for he could not exactly frame words in which to put the question he meant to ask.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What part of Italy did you come from?” he inquired carelessly, following the spiral line of cigar-smoke, as he breathed it from his lips.
