used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The butler stepped forward, mounted the witness-stand, and bowed his head deferentially towards the judge.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading He was neatly dressed in black, and his sandy-grey hair was carefully brushed.
of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow
From this reading The butler stepped forward, mounted the witness-stand, and bowed his head deferentially towards the judge.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading He was neatly dressed in black, and his sandy-grey hair was carefully brushed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading The butler stepped forward, mounted the witness-stand, and bowed his head deferentially towards the judge.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "James Hill!" called the court crier.
make calm or still
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading He was neatly dressed in black, and his sandy-grey hair was carefully brushed.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading "James Hill!" called the court crier.
criernounUS /ˈkraɪər/
a person who weeps
From this reading "James Hill!" called the court crier.
deferentiallyadverb
in a servile manner
From this reading The butler stepped forward, mounted the witness-stand, and bowed his head deferentially towards the judge.
downcastadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnkæst/
directed downward
From this reading He looked neither to the right nor left, but kept his glance downcast.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading He was neatly dressed in black, and his sandy-grey hair was carefully brushed.
at any time
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
expressionlessadjectiveUS /ɪkspreʃənlɪs/
deliberately impassive in manner
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The butler stepped forward, mounted the witness-stand, and bowed his head deferentially towards the judge.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He looked neither to the right nor left, but kept his glance downcast.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading He was neatly dressed in black, and his sandy-grey hair was carefully brushed.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was neatly dressed in black, and his sandy-grey hair was carefully brushed.
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 butler stepped forward, mounted the witness-stand, and bowed his head deferentially towards the judge.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading "James Hill!" called the court crier.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The butler stepped forward, mounted the witness-stand, and bowed his head deferentially towards the judge.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was neatly dressed in black, and his sandy-grey hair was carefully brushed.
indicatedverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtəd/
past form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading "James Hill!" called the court crier.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading The butler stepped forward, mounted the witness-stand, and bowed his head deferentially towards the judge.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading He looked neither to the right nor left, but kept his glance downcast.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading He looked neither to the right nor left, but kept his glance downcast.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked neither to the right nor left, but kept his glance downcast.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading The butler stepped forward, mounted the witness-stand, and bowed his head deferentially towards the judge.
neatlyadverbUS /ˈniːtli/
with neatness
From this reading He was neatly dressed in black, and his sandy-grey hair was carefully brushed.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading He looked neither to the right nor left, but kept his glance downcast.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He looked neither to the right nor left, but kept his glance downcast.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
oscillationnounUS /ˌɑːsəˈleɪʃən/
the process of oscillating between states
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
precisely, exactly
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
sandy-grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was neatly dressed in black, and his sandy-grey hair was carefully brushed.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading The butler stepped forward, mounted the witness-stand, and bowed his head deferentially towards the judge.
stroveverbUS /stroʊv/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
swornadjectiveUS /swɔːrn/
bound by or as if by an oath
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "James Hill!" called the court crier.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
in the direction of
From this reading The butler stepped forward, mounted the witness-stand, and bowed his head deferentially towards the judge.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was neatly dressed in black, and his sandy-grey hair was carefully brushed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His face was as expressionless as ever, but a slight oscillation of the Court Bible in his right hand as he was sworn indicated that his nerves were not so calm as he strove to appear.
witness-stand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The butler stepped forward, mounted the witness-stand, and bowed his head deferentially towards the judge.
