used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
aidenounUS /eɪd/
an officer who acts as military assistant to a more senior officer
From this reading Dr. Lytton asked as the aide walked out of the lieutenant’s office.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
armornounUS /ˈɑːrmər/
protective covering made of metal and used in combat
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Dr. Lytton asked as the aide walked out of the lieutenant’s office.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Dr. Lytton asked as the aide walked out of the lieutenant’s office.
Ballau
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Dr. Lytton and De Medici studied the bit of charred paper.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
charredverbUS /tʃɑːrd/
inflected form of “char” — burn to charcoal
From this reading Dr. Lytton and De Medici studied the bit of charred paper.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading “Yes, of course.”
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Lytton asked as the aide walked out of the lieutenant’s office.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
examineverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/
consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading “May I examine this?”
FlorencenounUS /ˈflɔːrəns/
a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
not accessible to view
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “May I examine this?”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
Julien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
lieutenant'snounUS /luːˈtenənts/
possessive form of “lieutenant” — a commissioned military officer
From this reading Dr. Lytton asked as the aide walked out of the lieutenant’s office.
LyttonnounUS /ˈlɪtən/
English writer of historical romances (1803-1873)
From this reading Dr. Lytton asked as the aide walked out of the lieutenant’s office.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “May I examine this?”
MedicinounUS /meˈdiːsi/
aristocratic Italian family of powerful merchants and bankers who ruled Florence in the 15th century
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Dr. Lytton asked as the aide walked out of the lieutenant’s office.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
opensnounUS /ˈoʊpənz/
plural of “open” — a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Dr. Lytton asked as the aide walked out of the lieutenant’s office.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Dr. Lytton and De Medici studied the bit of charred paper.
putsnounUS /pʊts/
plural of “put” — the option to sell a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
reluctantadjectiveUS /rɪˈlʌktənt/
unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
scientistnounUS /ˈsaɪəntɪst/
a person with advanced knowledge of one or more sciences
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
scratchesnounUS /ˈskrætʃəz/
plural of “scratch” — an abraded area where the skin is torn or worn off
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
sighsnounUS /saɪz/
plural of “sigh” — an utterance made by exhaling audibly
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading Dr. Lytton and De Medici studied the bit of charred paper.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “May I examine this?”
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Dr. Lytton asked as the aide walked out of the lieutenant’s office.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE HIDDEN VOICE In which a scientist half opens a reluctant door—The strange sleep of Florence Ballau—The broken murmur—“It was ... it was ...”—In which a detective scratches his ear and sighs—In which Julien De Medici puts on his armor.
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes, of course.”
