used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Early as it was, he lighted a second cigar as he stepped into the automobile, for Carshaw thought it an economy to retain a car.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading THE HUNT Steingall, not Clancy, presented his bulk at Carshaw's apartment next morning.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Early as it was, he lighted a second cigar as he stepped into the automobile, for Carshaw thought it an economy to retain a car.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE HUNT Steingall, not Clancy, presented his bulk at Carshaw's apartment next morning.
automobilenounUS /ˈɔːtəmoʊbiːl/
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Early as it was, he lighted a second cigar as he stepped into the automobile, for Carshaw thought it an economy to retain a car.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "Surprised to see me?" he began.
bulknounUS /bʌlk/
the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part
From this reading THE HUNT Steingall, not Clancy, presented his bulk at Carshaw's apartment next morning.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Early as it was, he lighted a second cigar as he stepped into the automobile, for Carshaw thought it an economy to retain a car.
Carshaw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
Carshaw's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HUNT Steingall, not Clancy, presented his bulk at Carshaw's apartment next morning.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading Early as it was, he lighted a second cigar as he stepped into the automobile, for Carshaw thought it an economy to retain a car.
Clancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HUNT Steingall, not Clancy, presented his bulk at Carshaw's apartment next morning.
contrivedadjectiveUS /kənˈtraɪvd/
showing effects of planning or manipulation
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
EarlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Early as it was, he lighted a second cigar as he stepped into the automobile, for Carshaw thought it an economy to retain a car.
economynounUS /ɪˈkɑːnəmi/
the system of production and distribution and consumption
From this reading Early as it was, he lighted a second cigar as he stepped into the automobile, for Carshaw thought it an economy to retain a car.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Early as it was, he lighted a second cigar as he stepped into the automobile, for Carshaw thought it an economy to retain a car.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE HUNT Steingall, not Clancy, presented his bulk at Carshaw's apartment next morning.
pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
From this reading THE HUNT Steingall, not Clancy, presented his bulk at Carshaw's apartment next morning.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Early as it was, he lighted a second cigar as he stepped into the automobile, for Carshaw thought it an economy to retain a car.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Early as it was, he lighted a second cigar as he stepped into the automobile, for Carshaw thought it an economy to retain a car.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, it's this way.
set afire or burning
From this reading Early as it was, he lighted a second cigar as he stepped into the automobile, for Carshaw thought it an economy to retain a car.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Surprised to see me?" he began.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE HUNT Steingall, not Clancy, presented his bulk at Carshaw's apartment next morning.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE HUNT Steingall, not Clancy, presented his bulk at Carshaw's apartment next morning.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE HUNT Steingall, not Clancy, presented his bulk at Carshaw's apartment next morning.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading THE HUNT Steingall, not Clancy, presented his bulk at Carshaw's apartment next morning.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
retainverbUS /rɪˈteɪn/
hold back within
From this reading Early as it was, he lighted a second cigar as he stepped into the automobile, for Carshaw thought it an economy to retain a car.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Early as it was, he lighted a second cigar as he stepped into the automobile, for Carshaw thought it an economy to retain a car.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Surprised to see me?" he began.
a male human offspring
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
Steingall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HUNT Steingall, not Clancy, presented his bulk at Carshaw's apartment next morning.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Early as it was, he lighted a second cigar as he stepped into the automobile, for Carshaw thought it an economy to retain a car.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading "Surprised to see me?" he began.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HUNT Steingall, not Clancy, presented his bulk at Carshaw's apartment next morning.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Well, it's this way.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Early as it was, he lighted a second cigar as he stepped into the automobile, for Carshaw thought it an economy to retain a car.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Well, it's this way.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, it's this way.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He contrived to have a few minutes' private talk with Mrs. Carshaw while her son was dressing.
