used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A striking change had been effected in his appearance since I had seen him last.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading A striking change had been effected in his appearance since I had seen him last.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A striking change had been effected in his appearance since I had seen him last.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
fearless and daring
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
brimnounUS /brɪm/
the top edge of a vessel or other container
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading A striking change had been effected in his appearance since I had seen him last.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
effectedadjectiveUS /ɪˈfektɪd/
settled securely and unconditionally
From this reading A striking change had been effected in his appearance since I had seen him last.
expedientadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspiːdiənt/
serving to promote your interest
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading MORE THAN HIS MATCH.
the act of retaining something
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
immediately past
From this reading A striking change had been effected in his appearance since I had seen him last.
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 I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading MORE THAN HIS MATCH.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading MORE THAN HIS MATCH.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
pressingnounUS /ˈpresɪŋ/
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A striking change had been effected in his appearance since I had seen him last.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading A striking change had been effected in his appearance since I had seen him last.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading A striking change had been effected in his appearance since I had seen him last.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading MORE THAN HIS MATCH.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
in or at that place or location
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading I am sure that if I had had the least suspicion of his approaching presence I should have kept him out by the simple expedient of turning the key in the door.
unannouncedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈnaʊnst/
without warning or announcement
From this reading Yes, unannounced.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As it was, there he stood, as bold as brass, holding in one hand the handle of the door which he had closed behind him, and in the other his hat, the brim of which he was pressing to his breast.
an affirmative
From this reading Yes, unannounced.
