used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His lips were thin, making a straight line.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For Bobby, in his nervous, bewildered condition, there was an ominous note in this surprise, this assurance, this peremptory greeting.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Certainly you are Mr. Robert Blackburn?"
on or to one side
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
assurancenounUS /əˈʃʊrəns/
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading For Bobby, in his nervous, bewildered condition, there was an ominous note in this surprise, this assurance, this peremptory greeting.
authoritativeadjectiveUS /əˈθɔːrəteɪtɪv/
having authority or ascendancy or influence
From this reading He spoke in a quick, authoritative voice:
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
bewilderedadjectiveUS /bɪˈwɪldərd/
perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
From this reading For Bobby, in his nervous, bewildered condition, there was an ominous note in this surprise, this assurance, this peremptory greeting.
BlackburnnounUS /ˈblækbərn/
black-and-white North American wood warbler having an orange-and-black head and throat
From this reading "Certainly you are Mr. Robert Blackburn?"
BobbynounUS /ˈbɑːbi/
an informal term for a British policeman
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
Bobby'snounUS /ˈbɑːbiz/
possessive form of “bobby” — an informal term for a British policeman
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "Certainly you are Mr. Robert Blackburn?"
a state at a particular time
From this reading For Bobby, in his nervous, bewildered condition, there was an ominous note in this surprise, this assurance, this peremptory greeting.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For Bobby, in his nervous, bewildered condition, there was an ominous note in this surprise, this assurance, this peremptory greeting.
the act of departing
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading For Bobby, in his nervous, bewildered condition, there was an ominous note in this surprise, this assurance, this peremptory greeting.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His lips were thin, making a straight line.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He spoke in a quick, authoritative voice:
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading His lips were thin, making a straight line.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading His lips were thin, making a straight line.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading His lips were thin, making a straight line.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Certainly you are Mr. Robert Blackburn?"
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
easily agitated
From this reading For Bobby, in his nervous, bewildered condition, there was an ominous note in this surprise, this assurance, this peremptory greeting.
a brief written record
From this reading For Bobby, in his nervous, bewildered condition, there was an ominous note in this surprise, this assurance, this peremptory greeting.
ominousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːmənəs/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading For Bobby, in his nervous, bewildered condition, there was an ominous note in this surprise, this assurance, this peremptory greeting.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
peremptoryadjectiveUS /pərˈemptəri/
offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power
From this reading For Bobby, in his nervous, bewildered condition, there was an ominous note in this surprise, this assurance, this peremptory greeting.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading He spoke in a quick, authoritative voice:
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading "Certainly you are Mr. Robert Blackburn?"
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading He spoke in a quick, authoritative voice:
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
successive (without a break)
From this reading His lips were thin, making a straight line.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading For Bobby, in his nervous, bewildered condition, there was an ominous note in this surprise, this assurance, this peremptory greeting.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For Bobby, in his nervous, bewildered condition, there was an ominous note in this surprise, this assurance, this peremptory greeting.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading His lips were thin, making a straight line.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For Bobby, in his nervous, bewildered condition, there was an ominous note in this surprise, this assurance, this peremptory greeting.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To avoid him Bobby stepped aside, thinking he must be going past, but the stranger stopped and placed a firm hand on Bobby's shoulder.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He spoke in a quick, authoritative voice:
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For Bobby, in his nervous, bewildered condition, there was an ominous note in this surprise, this assurance, this peremptory greeting.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His lips were thin, making a straight line.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Certainly you are Mr. Robert Blackburn?"
