used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was a force about him now of which I had not been conscious before.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading I assure you that there is a reason—and a good one—for my action.
matters of personal concern
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
make certain of
From this reading I assure you that there is a reason—and a good one—for my action.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There was a force about him now of which I had not been conscious before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There was a force about him now of which I had not been conscious before.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
Clayton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
intentionally conceived
From this reading There was a force about him now of which I had not been conscious before.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
eagernessnounUS /ˈiːɡərnəs/
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I assure you that there is a reason—and a good one—for my action.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading There was a force about him now of which I had not been conscious before.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading I assure you that there is a reason—and a good one—for my action.
gracefullyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪsfəli/
in a graceful manner
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading There was a force about him now of which I had not been conscious before.
impertinencenoun
an impudent statement
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I assure you that there is a reason—and a good one—for my action.
Larry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
negligencenounUS /ˈneɡlədʒəns/
failure to act with the prudence that a reasonable person would exercise under the same circumstances
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
negligentlyadverbUS /ˈneɡlɪdʒəntli/
in a negligent manner
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was a force about him now of which I had not been conscious before.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading There was a force about him now of which I had not been conscious before.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I assure you that there is a reason—and a good one—for my action.
and nothing more
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading I assure you that there is a reason—and a good one—for my action.
resentverbUS /rɪˈzent/
feel bitter or indignant about
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
in the near future
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
stiffenverbUS /ˈstɪfən/
become stiff or stiffer
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
surprisingadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋ/
causing surprise or wonder or amazement
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a force about him now of which I had not been conscious before.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
someone who visits
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a force about him now of which I had not been conscious before.
WebnounUS /web/
an intricate network suggesting something that was formed by weaving or interweaving
From this reading “The Shadow of the Web” My visitor nodded and sank gracefully into a chair, leaning back negligently.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a force about him now of which I had not been conscious before.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But as soon as the door had closed on Larry he seemed to stiffen in a surprising manner, his negligence dropped from him and he leaned forward with a certain eagerness.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Mr. Clayton,” he began, “I want to talk to you about your own affairs—and I can only hope that you will hear me out before you resent the apparent impertinence.
