used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
appearancesnounUS /əˈpɪrənsəz/
plural of “appearance” — outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are these Mr. Crawshay's rooms?" he asked.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Are these Mr. Crawshay's rooms?" he asked.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Crawshay turned away from the telephone and handed the receiver to the detective.
Brightman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Brightman there?"
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
Claridge's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
Crawshay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mr. Crawshay speaking," was the reply.
Crawshay's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Are these Mr. Crawshay's rooms?" he asked.
detectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading Crawshay turned away from the telephone and handed the receiver to the detective.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
being one more than seven
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
fitfuladjectiveUS /ˈfɪtfəl/
occurring in spells and often abruptly
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Crawshay turned away from the telephone and handed the receiver to the detective.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
half-hournounUS /ˈhæfaʊər/
a half of an hour
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
having or involving the use of hands
From this reading Crawshay turned away from the telephone and handed the receiver to the detective.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Are these Mr. Crawshay's rooms?" he asked.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
immediately past
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
loungeverbUS /laʊndʒ/
sit or recline comfortably
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Are these Mr. Crawshay's rooms?" he asked.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
one of four equal parts
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
receivernounUS /rəˈsiːvər/
set that receives radio or tv signals
From this reading Crawshay turned away from the telephone and handed the receiver to the detective.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading "Mr. Crawshay speaking," was the reply.
RestaurantnounUS /ˈrestərɑːnt/
a building where people go to eat
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading "Are these Mr. Crawshay's rooms?" he asked.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading "Mr. Crawshay speaking," was the reply.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "Brightman there?"
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "Are these Mr. Crawshay's rooms?" he asked.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Crawshay turned away from the telephone and handed the receiver to the detective.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Mr. Crawshay speaking," was the reply.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
which person or people
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading At a quarter to eight that evening, a young man who had made fitful appearances in the lounge of Claridge's Restaurant during the last half-hour went to the telephone and rang up a certain West End number.
