used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Mr. Mervin Brown on this occasion did not beat about the bush.
accordedverbUS /əˈkɔːrdɪd/
past form of “accord” — go together
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading His old air of confident, almost smug self-satisfaction, had vanished.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading His old air of confident, almost smug self-satisfaction, had vanished.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I will be quite frank with you.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading Mr. Mervin Brown on this occasion did not beat about the bush.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "Lord Dorminster," he began, "I have sent for you to renew a conversation we had some little time since.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading Mr. Mervin Brown on this occasion did not beat about the bush.
bushnounUS /bʊʃ/
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Mr. Mervin Brown on this occasion did not beat about the bush.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
confidentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnfədənt/
having or marked by confidence or assurance
From this reading His old air of confident, almost smug self-satisfaction, had vanished.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading "Lord Dorminster," he began, "I have sent for you to renew a conversation we had some little time since.
crankverbUS /kræŋk/
travel along a zigzag path
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
deferencenounUS /ˈdefərəns/
a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Mr. Mervin Brown on this occasion did not beat about the bush.
Dorminster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Lord Dorminster," he began, "I have sent for you to renew a conversation we had some little time since.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Lord Dorminster," he began, "I have sent for you to renew a conversation we had some little time since.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading I will be quite frank with you.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
good-naturedadjective
having an easygoing and cheerful disposition
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His old air of confident, almost smug self-satisfaction, had vanished.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Lord Dorminster," he began, "I have sent for you to renew a conversation we had some little time since.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His old air of confident, almost smug self-satisfaction, had vanished.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Lord Dorminster," he began, "I have sent for you to renew a conversation we had some little time since.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Lord Dorminster," he began, "I have sent for you to renew a conversation we had some little time since.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading "Lord Dorminster," he began, "I have sent for you to renew a conversation we had some little time since.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
Mervin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Mervin Brown on this occasion did not beat about the bush.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Mervin Brown on this occasion did not beat about the bush.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
Nigel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mr. Mervin Brown on this occasion did not beat about the bush.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading Mr. Mervin Brown on this occasion did not beat about the bush.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His old air of confident, almost smug self-satisfaction, had vanished.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading His old air of confident, almost smug self-satisfaction, had vanished.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mr. Mervin Brown on this occasion did not beat about the bush.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading I will be quite frank with you.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
renewverbUS /rɪˈnuː/
reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new
From this reading "Lord Dorminster," he began, "I have sent for you to renew a conversation we had some little time since.
self-satisfactionnoun
the feeling you have when you are satisfied with yourself
From this reading His old air of confident, almost smug self-satisfaction, had vanished.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading "Lord Dorminster," he began, "I have sent for you to renew a conversation we had some little time since.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading "Lord Dorminster," he began, "I have sent for you to renew a conversation we had some little time since.
smugadjectiveUS /smʌɡ/
marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
From this reading His old air of confident, almost smug self-satisfaction, had vanished.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "Lord Dorminster," he began, "I have sent for you to renew a conversation we had some little time since.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. Mervin Brown on this occasion did not beat about the bush.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Mr. Mervin Brown on this occasion did not beat about the bush.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Lord Dorminster," he began, "I have sent for you to renew a conversation we had some little time since.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
tolerancenounUS /ˈtɑːlərəns/
the power or capacity of an organism to tolerate unfavorable environmental conditions
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
having passed out of existence
From this reading His old air of confident, almost smug self-satisfaction, had vanished.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Lord Dorminster," he began, "I have sent for you to renew a conversation we had some little time since.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I will be quite frank with you.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He received Nigel with a new deference in his manner, without any further sign of that good-natured tolerance accorded by a busy man to a kindly crank.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Lord Dorminster," he began, "I have sent for you to renew a conversation we had some little time since.
