used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
in addition
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
baldadjectiveUS /bɔːld/
with no effort to conceal
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
campaignnounUS /kæmˈpeɪn/
a race between candidates for elective office
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
clerk'snounUS /klɜːrks/
possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
contentedadjectiveUS /kənˈtentəd/
satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
crushingadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌʃɪŋ/
physically or spiritually devastating; often used in combination
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
devisedverbUS /dɪˈvaɪzd/
past form of “devise” — come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
door-post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
drunkenadjectiveUS /ˈdrʌŋkən/
given to or marked by the consumption of alcohol
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures)
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
ironicaladjectiveUS /aɪˈrɑːnɪkəl/
characterized by often poignant difference or incongruity between what is expected and what actually is
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
khaki-clad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
the force of workers available
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
not any; not one
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
and nothing more
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
questionernounUS /ˈkwestʃənər/
someone who asks a question
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
retortnounUS /ˈriːtɔːrt/
a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
express in words
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
a special situation
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
upholdverbUS /əpˈhoʊld/
keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last
From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
