used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The time had arrived to tell him everything she knew about José.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For half an hour she was closeted with him in his library.
any thing at all
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading The time had arrived to tell him everything she knew about José.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
attentivelyadverbUS /əˈtentɪvli/
with attention; in an attentive manner
From this reading The major had listened to her attentively.
Bab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
closetedverbUS /ˈklɑːzətɪd/
past form of “closet” — confine to a small space, as for intensive work
From this reading For half an hour she was closeted with him in his library.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The time had arrived to tell him everything she knew about José.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading For half an hour she was closeted with him in his library.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The major had listened to her attentively.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For half an hour she was closeted with him in his library.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading For half an hour she was closeted with him in his library.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For half an hour she was closeted with him in his library.
José
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time had arrived to tell him everything she knew about José.
and nothing more
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
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 The time had arrived to tell him everything she knew about José.
a room where books are kept
From this reading For half an hour she was closeted with him in his library.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading The major had listened to her attentively.
majoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
masqueraders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
reluctancenounUS /rɪˈlʌktəns/
(physics) opposition to magnetic flux (analogous to electric resistance)
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
resemblancenounUS /rɪˈzembləns/
similarity in appearance or external or superficial details
From this reading He had felt reluctance to believe anything against a guest, just on a mere chance resemblance, but certainly the circle was closing in around José.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For half an hour she was closeted with him in his library.
express in speech
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
express in words
From this reading The time had arrived to tell him everything she knew about José.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The time had arrived to tell him everything she knew about José.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For half an hour she was closeted with him in his library.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The masqueraders had separated for the night; Bab, however, had asked to speak with the major before he went to his room.
