used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He’d been a fool to come to work, he realized.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
anticipateverbUS /ænˈtɪsəpeɪt/
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
automaticadjectiveUS /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/
operating with minimal human intervention; independent of external control
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He’d been a fool to come to work, he realized.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
chairmannounUS /ˈtʃermən/
the officer who presides at the meetings of an organization
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He’d been a fool to come to work, he realized.
commentsnounUS /ˈkɑːments/
plural of “comment” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
CorporationnounUS /ˌkɔːrpərˈeɪʃən/
a business firm whose articles of incorporation have been approved in some state
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
traveling across
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Somehow, thinking had grown difficult in the mornings recently.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
executivenounUS /ɪɡˈzekjətɪv/
a person responsible for the administration of a business
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
ExodusnounUS /ˈeksədəs/
a journey by a large group to escape from a hostile environment
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
a person who lacks good judgment
From this reading He’d been a fool to come to work, he realized.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
gaspingverbUS /ˈɡæspɪŋ/
-ing form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
Giles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading Somehow, thinking had grown difficult in the mornings recently.
an established custom
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Somehow, thinking had grown difficult in the mornings recently.
hammeringnounUS /ˈhæmərɪŋ/
the act of pounding (delivering repeated heavy blows)
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
He'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He’d been a fool to come to work, he realized.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
intense and profound fear
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
ten 10s
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Somehow, thinking had grown difficult in the mornings recently.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
immediately past
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
morningsnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋz/
plural of “morning” — the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Somehow, thinking had grown difficult in the mornings recently.
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
paddingnounUS /ˈpædɪŋ/
artifact consisting of soft or resilient material used to fill or give shape or protect or add comfort
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
pretensenounUS /priˈtens/
the act of giving a false appearance
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
purelyadverbUS /ˈpjʊrli/
restricted to something
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading He’d been a fool to come to work, he realized.
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading Somehow, thinking had grown difficult in the mornings recently.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
ritualnounUS /ˈrɪtʃuːəl/
any customary observance or practice
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
slumpedverbUS /slʌmpt/
past form of “slump” — assume a drooping posture or carriage
From this reading Inside his private office, he dropped all pretense and slumped into the padding of his chair, gasping for breath and feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
smilesnounUS /smaɪlz/
plural of “smile” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading Somehow, thinking had grown difficult in the mornings recently.
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Somehow, thinking had grown difficult in the mornings recently.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Giles made the expected comments, smiled the proper smiles and greeted his staff by the right names, but it was purely automatic.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He’d been a fool to come to work, he realized.
a late time of life
From this reading _He didn’t expect to be last—but neither did he anticipate the horror of being the first!_ NEARLY TWO hundred years of habit carried the chairman of Exodus Corporation through the morning ritual of crossing the executive floor.
