the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
arrangingnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒɪŋ/
the act of arranging and adapting a piece of music
From this reading He, too, was leaving his desk for the day, arranging his work with the tidy care of one for whom pens, ink, and ledgers were the vital things of life.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "Mr. Collingham will see you in his office before you go."
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading He, too, was leaving his desk for the day, arranging his work with the tidy care of one for whom pens, ink, and ledgers were the vital things of life.
clerksnounUS /klɜːrks/
plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
Collingham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mr. Collingham will see you in his office before you go."
daintilyadverbUS /ˈdeɪntəliː/
in a dainty and fastidious manner
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading He, too, was leaving his desk for the day, arranging his work with the tidy care of one for whom pens, ink, and ledgers were the vital things of life.
desksnounUS /desks/
plural of “desk” — a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
having the place or position changed
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
FinishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading Finishing his task, his hands trembled.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Mr. Collingham will see you in his office before you go."
grazingnounUS /ˈɡreɪzɪŋ/
the act of grazing
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Finishing his task, his hands trembled.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He, too, was leaving his desk for the day, arranging his work with the tidy care of one for whom pens, ink, and ledgers were the vital things of life.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Mr. Collingham will see you in his office before you go."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Mr. Collingham will see you in his office before you go."
inknounUS /ɪŋk/
a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing
From this reading He, too, was leaving his desk for the day, arranging his work with the tidy care of one for whom pens, ink, and ledgers were the vital things of life.
the act of departing
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
ledgersnounUS /ˈledʒərz/
plural of “ledger” — a record in which commercial accounts are recorded
From this reading He, too, was leaving his desk for the day, arranging his work with the tidy care of one for whom pens, ink, and ledgers were the vital things of life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He, too, was leaving his desk for the day, arranging his work with the tidy care of one for whom pens, ink, and ledgers were the vital things of life.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
mildadjectiveUS /maɪld/
moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Mr. Collingham will see you in his office before you go."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading "Mr. Collingham will see you in his office before you go."
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He, too, was leaving his desk for the day, arranging his work with the tidy care of one for whom pens, ink, and ledgers were the vital things of life.
oxnounUS /ɑːks/
an adult castrated bull of the genus Bos; especially Bos taurus
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
pensnounUS /penz/
plural of “pen” — a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
preeningverbUS /ˈpriːnɪŋ/
-ing form of “preen” — clean with one's bill
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
Ruddick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Mr. Collingham will see you in his office before you go."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
shirt-waisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
shodadjectiveUS /ʃɑːd/
wearing footgear
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Finishing his task, his hands trembled.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He, too, was leaving his desk for the day, arranging his work with the tidy care of one for whom pens, ink, and ledgers were the vital things of life.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
tidyadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪdi/
marked by order and cleanliness in appearance or habits
From this reading He, too, was leaving his desk for the day, arranging his work with the tidy care of one for whom pens, ink, and ledgers were the vital things of life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He, too, was leaving his desk for the day, arranging his work with the tidy care of one for whom pens, ink, and ledgers were the vital things of life.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading Finishing his task, his hands trembled.
vitaladjectiveUS /ˈvaɪtəl/
urgently needed; absolutely necessary
From this reading He, too, was leaving his desk for the day, arranging his work with the tidy care of one for whom pens, ink, and ledgers were the vital things of life.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He, too, was leaving his desk for the day, arranging his work with the tidy care of one for whom pens, ink, and ledgers were the vital things of life.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
in or at the place that
From this reading Having thus become the Voice of Fate, Miss Ruddick, shirt-waisted and daintily shod, slipped away between the pens where clerks were preening themselves before leaving their desks for the day.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The old man to whom she had spoken raised his head in the mild surprise of an ox disturbed while grazing.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Mr. Collingham will see you in his office before you go."
in the company of; together with
From this reading He, too, was leaving his desk for the day, arranging his work with the tidy care of one for whom pens, ink, and ledgers were the vital things of life.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He, too, was leaving his desk for the day, arranging his work with the tidy care of one for whom pens, ink, and ledgers were the vital things of life.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Mr. Collingham will see you in his office before you go."
