used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At two he seized the telephone directory, and, a minute later, the instrument.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The answer to his first question stiffened him into an attitude of rigid tensity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At two he seized the telephone directory, and, a minute later, the instrument.
react verbally
From this reading The answer to his first question stiffened him into an attitude of rigid tensity.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading The answer to his first question stiffened him into an attitude of rigid tensity.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading At half-past one he had become impatient.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
directorynounUS /dərˈektəri/
an alphabetical list of names and addresses
From this reading At two he seized the telephone directory, and, a minute later, the instrument.
DISAPPEARANCEnounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
Dupont
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The answer to his first question stiffened him into an attitude of rigid tensity.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At half-past one he had become impatient.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At half-past one he had become impatient.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At half-past one he had become impatient.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The answer to his first question stiffened him into an attitude of rigid tensity.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading At half-past one he had become impatient.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading At two he seized the telephone directory, and, a minute later, the instrument.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The answer to his first question stiffened him into an attitude of rigid tensity.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading At two he seized the telephone directory, and, a minute later, the instrument.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading At two he seized the telephone directory, and, a minute later, the instrument.
used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English “Mr”
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading At two-thirty he obtained his number.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading At two-thirty he obtained his number.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The answer to his first question stiffened him into an attitude of rigid tensity.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading The answer to his first question stiffened him into an attitude of rigid tensity.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading At two he seized the telephone directory, and, a minute later, the instrument.
stiffenedverbUS /ˈstɪfənd/
past form of “stiffen” — become stiff or stiffer
From this reading The answer to his first question stiffened him into an attitude of rigid tensity.
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 two he seized the telephone directory, and, a minute later, the instrument.
tensitynoun
the physical condition of being stretched or strained
From this reading The answer to his first question stiffened him into an attitude of rigid tensity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The answer to his first question stiffened him into an attitude of rigid tensity.
TRANTER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading At two he seized the telephone directory, and, a minute later, the instrument.
two-thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At two-thirty he obtained his number.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading THE DISAPPEARANCE OF TRANTER At one o'clock on the following day, Monsieur Dupont sat in his room waiting for Tranter.
