used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
absentadjectiveUS /ˈæbsənt/
not being in a specified place
From this reading It was a face from whence every indication of intelligence and refinement was absent.
how long something has existed
From this reading His age was something below fifty, but his big red face was unlined.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Inspector Parr, who knew the signs, watched with an apparently detached interest.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Commissioner looked down at the newspaper cutting before him and tugged at his grey moustache.
from appearances alone
From this reading Inspector Parr, who knew the signs, watched with an apparently detached interest.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Commissioner looked down at the newspaper cutting before him and tugged at his grey moustache.
authoritiesnounUS /əˈθɔːrətiz/
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The Commissioner looked down at the newspaper cutting before him and tugged at his grey moustache.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading His age was something below fifty, but his big red face was unlined.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His age was something below fifty, but his big red face was unlined.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His age was something below fifty, but his big red face was unlined.
CommissionernounUS /kəˈmɪʃənər/
a government administrator
From this reading The Commissioner looked down at the newspaper cutting before him and tugged at his grey moustache.
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading The Commissioner looked down at the newspaper cutting before him and tugged at his grey moustache.
detachedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtætʃt/
showing lack of emotional involvement
From this reading Inspector Parr, who knew the signs, watched with an apparently detached interest.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The Commissioner looked down at the newspaper cutting before him and tugged at his grey moustache.
at any time
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It was a face from whence every indication of intelligence and refinement was absent.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His age was something below fifty, but his big red face was unlined.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading His age was something below fifty, but his big red face was unlined.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was a face from whence every indication of intelligence and refinement was absent.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading The Commissioner looked down at the newspaper cutting before him and tugged at his grey moustache.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Commissioner looked down at the newspaper cutting before him and tugged at his grey moustache.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Commissioner looked down at the newspaper cutting before him and tugged at his grey moustache.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
indicationnounUS /ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃən/
something that serves to indicate or suggest
From this reading It was a face from whence every indication of intelligence and refinement was absent.
InspectornounUS /ˌɪnˈspektər/
a high ranking police officer
From this reading Inspector Parr, who knew the signs, watched with an apparently detached interest.
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
From this reading It was a face from whence every indication of intelligence and refinement was absent.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Inspector Parr, who knew the signs, watched with an apparently detached interest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Inspector Parr, who knew the signs, watched with an apparently detached interest.
lackingadjectiveUS /ˈlækɪŋ/
inadequate in amount or degree
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The Commissioner looked down at the newspaper cutting before him and tugged at his grey moustache.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
moustachenounUS /ˈmʌstæʃ/
an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip
From this reading The Commissioner looked down at the newspaper cutting before him and tugged at his grey moustache.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading The Commissioner looked down at the newspaper cutting before him and tugged at his grey moustache.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
ParrnounUS /pɑːr/
Queen of England as the 6th wife of Henry VIII (1512-1548)
From this reading Inspector Parr, who knew the signs, watched with an apparently detached interest.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading His age was something below fifty, but his big red face was unlined.
refinementnounUS /rəˈfaɪnmənt/
a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality
From this reading It was a face from whence every indication of intelligence and refinement was absent.
unusual or striking
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
requirementsnounUS /rɪˈkwaɪrmənts/
plural of “requirement” — required activity
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Inspector Parr, who knew the signs, watched with an apparently detached interest.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading His age was something below fifty, but his big red face was unlined.
stringentadjectiveUS /ˈstrɪndʒənt/
demanding strict attention to rules and procedures
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Commissioner looked down at the newspaper cutting before him and tugged at his grey moustache.
thick-set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
tuggedverbUS /tʌɡd/
inflected form of “tug” — pull hard
From this reading The Commissioner looked down at the newspaper cutting before him and tugged at his grey moustache.
unlinedadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪnd/
not having a lining or liner
From this reading His age was something below fifty, but his big red face was unlined.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a short, thick-set man, so lacking in inches that it was remarkable that he had ever satisfied the stringent requirements of the police authorities.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Inspector Parr, who knew the signs, watched with an apparently detached interest.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading It was a face from whence every indication of intelligence and refinement was absent.
which person or people
From this reading Inspector Parr, who knew the signs, watched with an apparently detached interest.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Inspector Parr, who knew the signs, watched with an apparently detached interest.
