adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/
anew
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
announcementnounUS /əˈnaʊnsmənt/
a formal public statement
From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
apartadverbUS /əˈpɑːrt/
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
apartmentsnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənts/
plural of “apartment” — a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
clausenounUS /klɔːz/
(grammar) an expression including a subject and predicate functioning as a part of a complex sentence
From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
closelyadverbUS /ˈkloʊsli/
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
commonadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmən/
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
continuedadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːd/
without stop or interruption
From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
desiredadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪərd/
wanted intensely
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
desirousadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪrəs/
having or expressing desire for something
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
explainedverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnd/
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
foreignadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrən/
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
friendnounUS /frend/
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
gentlemannounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/
a man of refinement
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
hatnounUS /hæt/
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
healthnounUS /helθ/
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
interruptionsnounUS /ˌɪntərˈʌpʃənz/
plural of “interruption” — an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
JonesnounUS /dʒoʊnz/
United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)
From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
knocker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
lodging-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
militaryadjectiveUS /ˈmɪləteri/
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
notenounUS /noʊt/
a brief written record
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
particularlyadverbUS /ˌpɑːrˈtɪkjələrli/
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
PerhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
politest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
sedateadjectiveUS /sɪˈdeɪt/
characterized by dignity and propriety
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
shavenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪvən/
having the beard or hair cut off close to the skin
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
solitaryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləteri/
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
somewhatadverbUS /ˈsʌmˈwʌt/
to a small degree or extent
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
startledadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtəld/
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
tenderadjectiveUS /ˈtendər/
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
termsnounUS /tɜːrmz/
status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
unusualadjectiveUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəl/
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
visitverbUS /ˈvɪzɪt/
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
wearingnounUS /ˈwerɪŋ/
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
weeknounUS /wiːk/
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
