adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
accustomedadjectiveUS /əˈkʌstəmd/
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The words she meant to say never crossed her lips; she was waiting to hear what the two men would say to one another.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Marguerite looked up at her husband.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
Blakeney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
broadadjectiveUS /brɔːd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
caughtverbUS /kɑːt/
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
chancenounUS /tʃæns/
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
Chauvelin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
crossedadjectiveUS /krɔːst/
placed crosswise
From this reading The words she meant to say never crossed her lips; she was waiting to hear what the two men would say to one another.
curtseynoun
bending the knees; a gesture of respect made by women
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
damenounUS /deɪm/
informal terms for a (young) woman
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
ex-Ambassador
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
exigenciesnounUS /ˌekˈsɪdʒənsiz/
plural of “exigency” — a pressing or urgent situation
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
FrenchmannounUS /ˈfrentʃmæn/
a person of French nationality
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
glanceverbUS /ɡlæns/
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
good-humouredadjective
disposed to please
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
grande
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading The words she meant to say never crossed her lips; she was waiting to hear what the two men would say to one another.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Marguerite looked up at her husband.
HighnessnounUS /ˈhaɪnəs/
(Your Highness or His Highness or Her Highness) title used to address a royal person
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
husbandnounUS /ˈhʌzbənd/
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Marguerite looked up at her husband.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
instinctnounUS /ˈɪnstɪŋkt/
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
ladynounUS /ˈleɪdi/
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
lazyadjectiveUS /ˈleɪzi/
moving slowly and gently
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
lipsnounUS /lɪps/
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading The words she meant to say never crossed her lips; she was waiting to hear what the two men would say to one another.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Marguerite looked up at her husband.
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
mannernounUS /ˈmænər/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
MargueritenounUS /ˌmɑːrɡərˈiːt/
tall leafy-stemmed Eurasian perennial with white flowers; widely naturalized; often placed in genus Chrysanthemum
From this reading Marguerite looked up at her husband.
meantverbUS /ment/
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading The words she meant to say never crossed her lips; she was waiting to hear what the two men would say to one another.
meetingnounUS /ˈmiːtɪŋ/
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading The words she meant to say never crossed her lips; she was waiting to hear what the two men would say to one another.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The words she meant to say never crossed her lips; she was waiting to hear what the two men would say to one another.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The words she meant to say never crossed her lips; she was waiting to hear what the two men would say to one another.
PercynounUS /ˈpɜːrsi/
United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
presencenounUS /ˈprezəns/
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
requisitenounUS /ˈrekwəzət/
anything indispensable
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
RoyaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading The words she meant to say never crossed her lips; she was waiting to hear what the two men would say to one another.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
shouldersnounUS /ˈʃoʊldərz/
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
shrugnounUS /ʃrʌɡ/
a gesture involving the shoulders
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
shrunkenadjectiveUS /ˈʃrʌŋkən/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
sightnounUS /saɪt/
an instance of visual perception
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/
marked by absence of sound
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
situationnounUS /ˌsɪtʃuːˈeɪʃən/
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
societynounUS /səˈsaɪəti/
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
sufficientadjectiveUS /səˈfɪʃənt/
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading The instinct of the grande dame in her, the fashionable lady accustomed to the exigencies of society, just gave her sufficient presence of mind to make the requisite low curtsey before His Royal Highness.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The words she meant to say never crossed her lips; she was waiting to hear what the two men would say to one another.
truthnounUS /truːθ/
a fact that has been verified
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The words she meant to say never crossed her lips; she was waiting to hear what the two men would say to one another.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Marguerite looked up at her husband.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading She saw him shrug his broad shoulders as he first caught sight of Chauvelin, and glance down in his usual lazy, good-humoured manner at the shrunken figure of the silent Frenchman.
waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading The words she meant to say never crossed her lips; she was waiting to hear what the two men would say to one another.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was in truth a strange situation, this chance meeting between Percy Blakeney and ex-Ambassador Chauvelin.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The words she meant to say never crossed her lips; she was waiting to hear what the two men would say to one another.
wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/
the words that are spoken
From this reading The words she meant to say never crossed her lips; she was waiting to hear what the two men would say to one another.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The words she meant to say never crossed her lips; she was waiting to hear what the two men would say to one another.
