adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
abandoningverbUS /əˈbændənɪŋ/
-ing form of “abandon” — forsake, leave behind
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading “Yes,” he thought, “those eyes have an almost superhuman force and cunning.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “Yes,” he thought, “those eyes have an almost superhuman force and cunning.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They are the eyes of a spider in the centre of a great web.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
BlinkverbUS /blɪŋk/
briefly shut the eyes
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
bringverbUS /brɪŋ/
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
causedverbUS /kɑːzd/
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
centrenounUS /ˈsentər/
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading They are the eyes of a spider in the centre of a great web.
chinnounUS /tʃɪn/
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
contemplatedverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪd/
past form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
cunningadjectiveUS /ˈkʌnɪŋ/
attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness
From this reading “Yes,” he thought, “those eyes have an almost superhuman force and cunning.
designnounUS /dɪˈzaɪn/
the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
edgenounUS /edʒ/
the boundary of a surface
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading “Yes,” he thought, “those eyes have an almost superhuman force and cunning.
fallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
forcenounUS /fɔːrs/
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading “Yes,” he thought, “those eyes have an almost superhuman force and cunning.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
gentlemannounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/
a man of refinement
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading They are the eyes of a spider in the centre of a great web.
groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
habitsnounUS /ˈhæbəts/
plural of “habit” — an established custom
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Yes,” he thought, “those eyes have an almost superhuman force and cunning.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They are the eyes of a spider in the centre of a great web.
instinctsnounUS /ˈɪnstɪŋkts/
plural of “instinct” — inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
latteradjectiveUS /ˈlætər/
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
LavenderadjectiveUS /ˈlævəndər/
of a pale purple color
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
motionnounUS /ˈmoʊʃən/
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
moveverbUS /muːv/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
oppositeadjectiveUS /ˈɑːpəzət/
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
Personagenoun
another word for person; a person not meriting identification
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
pressedadjectiveUS /prest/
compacted by ironing
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
remainedverbUS /rɪˈmeɪnd/
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
remarkableadjectiveUS /rɪˈmɑːrkəbəl/
unusual or striking
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
replacedverbUS /ˌriːˈpleɪst/
past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
retreatnounUS /riˈtriːt/
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
returningadjectiveUS /rɪˈtɜːrnɪŋ/
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
sanctitynounUS /ˈsæŋktɪti/
the quality of being holy
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
savouringnoun
taking a small amount into the mouth to test its quality
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
seatnounUS /siːt/
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
sensationnounUS /senˈseɪʃən/
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
spidernounUS /ˈspaɪdər/
predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey
From this reading They are the eyes of a spider in the centre of a great web.
standstillnounUS /ˈstændstɪl/
a situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
stareverbUS /ster/
look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
superhumanadjectiveUS /ˌsuːpərˈhjuːmən/
above or beyond the human or demanding more than human power or endurance
From this reading “Yes,” he thought, “those eyes have an almost superhuman force and cunning.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They are the eyes of a spider in the centre of a great web.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “Yes,” he thought, “those eyes have an almost superhuman force and cunning.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “Yes,” he thought, “those eyes have an almost superhuman force and cunning.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
trainverbUS /treɪn/
create by training and teaching
From this reading The Personage, who had made a move of his hand as if to bring the train to a standstill, abandoning his design, replaced his cigar, and contemplated Mr. Lavender from above it.
urgencynounUS /ˈɜːrdʒənsi/
the state of being urgent; an earnest and insistent necessity
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
violateverbUS /ˈvaɪəleɪt/
fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
webnounUS /web/
an intricate network suggesting something that was formed by weaving or interweaving
From this reading They are the eyes of a spider in the centre of a great web.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
withdrewverbUS /wɪθˈdruː/
inflected form of “withdraw” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading The latter remained silent, returning that remarkable stare, while Blink withdrew beneath the seat and pressed her chin to the ground, savouring the sensation of a new motion.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
YesnounUS /jes/
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes,” he thought, “those eyes have an almost superhuman force and cunning.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I know,” said Mr. Lavender, who had fallen on to the edge of the seat opposite; “and only the urgency of my business would have caused me to violate the sanctity of your retreat, for, believe me, I have the instincts if not the habits of a gentleman.”
