adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
actingnounUS /ˈæktɪŋ/
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE TERROR BY DAY My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
anxietynounUS /æŋˈzaɪəti/
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
behalfnounUS /bɪˈhæf/
as the agent of or on someone's part (usually expressed as “on behalf of” rather than “in behalf of”)
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
bottomnounUS /ˈbɑːtəm/
the lower side of anything
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
broadadjectiveUS /brɔːd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
BYprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE TERROR BY DAY My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
DAYnounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE TERROR BY DAY My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
daylightnounUS /ˈdeɪlaɪt/
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
disappearancenounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading THE TERROR BY DAY My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/
something intended to communicate a particular impression
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
emptyverbUS /ˈempti/
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE TERROR BY DAY My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
gainverbUS /ɡeɪn/
obtain
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
gatenounUS /ɡeɪt/
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
Holt's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpəls/
an instinctive motive
From this reading THE TERROR BY DAY My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
laughnounUS /læf/
the sound of laughing
From this reading THE TERROR BY DAY My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
leastadjectiveUS /liːst/
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading To say the least, the anxiety seemed unwarranted.
lessadverbUS /les/
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
merelyadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/
and nothing more
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE TERROR BY DAY My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
occupantnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənt/
someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
otherwiseadverbUS /ˈʌðərwaɪz/
in other respects or ways
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
proceedingsnounUS /proʊˈsiːdɪŋz/
(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
proposedverbUS /prəˈpoʊzd/
past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
re-enterverb
enter again
From this reading Then I turned to re-enter the house.
reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading To say the least, the anxiety seemed unwarranted.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading To say the least, the anxiety seemed unwarranted.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
singularadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡjələr/
unusual or striking
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
solenounUS /soʊl/
the underside of footwear or a golf club
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
spyverbUS /spaɪ/
catch sight of
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
SydneynounUS /ˈsɪdni/
the largest Australian city located in southeastern Australia on the Tasman Sea; state capital of New South Wales; Australia's chief port
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
Sydney'snounUS /ˈsɪdniz/
possessive form of “sydney” — the largest Australian city located in southeastern Australia on the Tasman Sea; state capital of New South Wales; Australia's chief port
From this reading THE TERROR BY DAY My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
TERRORnounUS /ˈterər/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading THE TERROR BY DAY My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TERROR BY DAY My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then I turned to re-enter the house.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE TERROR BY DAY My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Then I turned to re-enter the house.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
unwarrantedadjectiveUS /ənˈwɔːrəntɪd/
incapable of being justified or explained
From this reading To say the least, the anxiety seemed unwarranted.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
wanderingsnounUS /ˈwɑːndərɪŋz/
plural of “wandering” — travelling about without any clear destination
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE TERROR BY DAY My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
WhynounUS /waɪ/
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
wonderingadjectiveUS /ˈwʌndərɪŋ/
showing curiosity
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
