used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He lightly put aside the compliment with a wave of his white hand.
the state of being absent
From this reading The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
in actual fact
From this reading The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy.
admissionnounUS /ædˈmɪʃən/
the act of admitting someone to enter
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Perhaps you can give me—er—a brief outline of the affair?”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
on or to one side
From this reading He lightly put aside the compliment with a wave of his white hand.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
of short duration or distance
From this reading Perhaps you can give me—er—a brief outline of the affair?”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Perhaps you can give me—er—a brief outline of the affair?”
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading “Of course,” said the Colonel, confidently, “there is strongly presumptive and corroborative evidence?
complimentverbUS /ˈkɑːmpləment/
say something to someone that expresses praise
From this reading He lightly put aside the compliment with a wave of his white hand.
confidentlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnfədəntli/
with confidence; in a confident manner
From this reading “Of course,” said the Colonel, confidently, “there is strongly presumptive and corroborative evidence?
correspondencenounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndəns/
communication by the exchange of letters
From this reading The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy.
corroborativeadjectiveUS /kərˈɑːbərətɪv/
serving to support or corroborate
From this reading “Of course,” said the Colonel, confidently, “there is strongly presumptive and corroborative evidence?
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading “Of course,” said the Colonel, confidently, “there is strongly presumptive and corroborative evidence?
ernounUS /ər/
a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs with yttrium
From this reading Perhaps you can give me—er—a brief outline of the affair?”
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading “Of course,” said the Colonel, confidently, “there is strongly presumptive and corroborative evidence?
something many people believe that is false
From this reading The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Perhaps you can give me—er—a brief outline of the affair?”
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He lightly put aside the compliment with a wave of his white hand.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He lightly put aside the compliment with a wave of his white hand.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Of course,” said the Colonel, confidently, “there is strongly presumptive and corroborative evidence?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
without good reason
From this reading He lightly put aside the compliment with a wave of his white hand.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Perhaps you can give me—er—a brief outline of the affair?”
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
mirth-provoking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
outlinenounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading Perhaps you can give me—er—a brief outline of the affair?”
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps you can give me—er—a brief outline of the affair?”
persuasionnounUS /pərˈsweɪʒən/
the act of persuading (or attempting to persuade); communication intended to induce belief or action
From this reading The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy.
plural of “power” — possession of controlling influence
From this reading The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy.
presumptiveadjectiveUS /priˈzʌmptɪv/
having a reasonable basis for belief or acceptance
From this reading “Of course,” said the Colonel, confidently, “there is strongly presumptive and corroborative evidence?
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He lightly put aside the compliment with a wave of his white hand.
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Of course,” said the Colonel, confidently, “there is strongly presumptive and corroborative evidence?
solelyadverbUS /ˈsoʊəli/
without any others being included or involved
From this reading The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy.
Starbottle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
StartlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
with strength or in a strong manner
From this reading “Of course,” said the Colonel, confidently, “there is strongly presumptive and corroborative evidence?
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The absence of any mirth-provoking correspondence, and the appeal solely to his own powers of persuasion, actually struck his fancy.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “Of course,” said the Colonel, confidently, “there is strongly presumptive and corroborative evidence?
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Startling as this admission might have been to any other lawyer, Starbottle was absolutely relieved by it.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading He lightly put aside the compliment with a wave of his white hand.
a Caucasian
From this reading He lightly put aside the compliment with a wave of his white hand.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He lightly put aside the compliment with a wave of his white hand.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Perhaps you can give me—er—a brief outline of the affair?”
