used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He hoped to be dismissed like a presumptuous schoolboy caught in an attempt to evade the rules.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He hoped to be dismissed like a presumptuous schoolboy caught in an attempt to evade the rules.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
on or to one side
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading He hoped to be dismissed like a presumptuous schoolboy caught in an attempt to evade the rules.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He hoped to be dismissed like a presumptuous schoolboy caught in an attempt to evade the rules.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading He hoped to be dismissed like a presumptuous schoolboy caught in an attempt to evade the rules.
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading It was he who was not clever!
crystalnounUS /ˈkrɪstəl/
a solid formed by the solidification of a chemical and having a highly regular atomic structure
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
dismissedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmɪst/
having lost your job
From this reading He hoped to be dismissed like a presumptuous schoolboy caught in an attempt to evade the rules.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
evadeverbUS /ɪˈveɪd/
avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading He hoped to be dismissed like a presumptuous schoolboy caught in an attempt to evade the rules.
FranklinnounUS /ˈfræŋklɪn/
United States historian noted for studies of Black American history (born in 1915)
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
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 Shepherd shrank further into himself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was he who was not clever!
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Shepherd shrank further into himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading He hoped to be dismissed like a presumptuous schoolboy caught in an attempt to evade the rules.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He hoped to be dismissed like a presumptuous schoolboy caught in an attempt to evade the rules.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Shepherd shrank further into himself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was he who was not clever!
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
ivorynounUS /ˈaɪvəri/
a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
and nothing more
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He hoped to be dismissed like a presumptuous schoolboy caught in an attempt to evade the rules.
MillsnounUS /mɪlz/
United States architect who was the presidentially appointed architect of Washington D.C. (1781-1855)
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
not one, and not any
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was he who was not clever!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
presumptuousadjectiveUS /prɪˈzʌmptʃəwəs/
excessively forward
From this reading He hoped to be dismissed like a presumptuous schoolboy caught in an attempt to evade the rules.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
rulesnounUS /ruːlz/
plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading He hoped to be dismissed like a presumptuous schoolboy caught in an attempt to evade the rules.
schoolboynounUS /ˈskuːlbɔɪ/
a boy attending school
From this reading He hoped to be dismissed like a presumptuous schoolboy caught in an attempt to evade the rules.
exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
shapelyadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪpli/
having a well-proportioned and pleasing shape
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
Shep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
ShepherdnounUS /ˈʃepərd/
a clergyman who watches over a group of people
From this reading Shepherd shrank further into himself.
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading Shepherd shrank further into himself.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
express a supposition
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He hoped to be dismissed like a presumptuous schoolboy caught in an attempt to evade the rules.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He hoped to be dismissed like a presumptuous schoolboy caught in an attempt to evade the rules.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was he who was not clever!
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
well-keptadjective
kept in good condition
From this reading Franklin Mills, putting aside the crystal weight, had taken up the ivory paper knife and was drawing it slowly through his shapely, well-kept hands.
which person or people
From this reading It was he who was not clever!
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I suppose it’s none of my business, Shep, but just why did you sell that stock?
