used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
anew
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading "Excuse me, but you _are_ the conjurer, aren't you?" he enquired, a trifle anxiously.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Excuse me, but you _are_ the conjurer, aren't you?" he enquired, a trifle anxiously.
aren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Excuse me, but you _are_ the conjurer, aren't you?" he enquired, a trifle anxiously.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Do be quick, James.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Excuse me, but you _are_ the conjurer, aren't you?" he enquired, a trifle anxiously.
ClockworknounUS /ˈklɑːkwɜːrk/
any mechanism of geared wheels that is driven by a coiled spring; resembles the works of a mechanical clock
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
conjurernounUS /ˈkɑːndʒərʌr/
someone who performs magic tricks to amuse an audience
From this reading "Excuse me, but you _are_ the conjurer, aren't you?" he enquired, a trifle anxiously.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Do be quick, James.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
embarrassingadjectiveUS /ɪmˈberəsɪŋ/
hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
enquired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Excuse me, but you _are_ the conjurer, aren't you?" he enquired, a trifle anxiously.
accept an excuse for
From this reading "Excuse me, but you _are_ the conjurer, aren't you?" he enquired, a trifle anxiously.
the organ of sight
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
fingeredadjectiveUS /ˈfɪŋɡərd/
having or resembling a finger or fingers; often used in combination
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
gearnounUS /ɡɪr/
a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "James, has the conjurer--Oh, yes, I see he has.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "James, has the conjurer--Oh, yes, I see he has.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading "James, has the conjurer--Oh, yes, I see he has.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Excuse me, but you _are_ the conjurer, aren't you?" he enquired, a trifle anxiously.
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "James, has the conjurer--Oh, yes, I see he has.
other's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Do be quick, James.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "James, has the conjurer--Oh, yes, I see he has.
in a swift manner
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading "Excuse me, but you _are_ the conjurer, aren't you?" he enquired, a trifle anxiously.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before the Clockwork man had time to reply to this embarrassing question, the curtain was again swiftly drawn, and an anxious female face appeared.
look attentively
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He fingered nervously with his watch, and then his eye rested for a second upon the other's head gear.
an affirmative
From this reading "James, has the conjurer--Oh, yes, I see he has.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Excuse me, but you _are_ the conjurer, aren't you?" he enquired, a trifle anxiously.
