used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading For several minutes Shirley stood still, not knowing whether to advance or to take a seat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Ryder remained at his desk and did not even look up when his visitor entered.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mr. Ryder remained at his desk and did not even look up when his visitor entered.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
busilyadverbUS /ˈbɪzəli/
in a busy manner
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
conventionaladjectiveUS /kənˈvenʃənəl/
following accepted customs and proprieties
From this reading She gave a little conventional cough, and Ryder looked up.
coughverbUS /kɑːf/
exhale abruptly, as when one has a chest cold or congestion
From this reading She gave a little conventional cough, and Ryder looked up.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Mr. Ryder remained at his desk and did not even look up when his visitor entered.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Mr. Ryder remained at his desk and did not even look up when his visitor entered.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Mr. Ryder remained at his desk and did not even look up when his visitor entered.
divisible by two
From this reading Mr. Ryder remained at his desk and did not even look up when his visitor entered.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
frigidadjectiveUS /ˈfrɪdʒəd/
sexually unresponsive
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She gave a little conventional cough, and Ryder looked up.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Ryder remained at his desk and did not even look up when his visitor entered.
invariablyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈveriəbli/
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading For several minutes Shirley stood still, not knowing whether to advance or to take a seat.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Mr. Ryder remained at his desk and did not even look up when his visitor entered.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She gave a little conventional cough, and Ryder looked up.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading For several minutes Shirley stood still, not knowing whether to advance or to take a seat.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Ryder remained at his desk and did not even look up when his visitor entered.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mr. Ryder remained at his desk and did not even look up when his visitor entered.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For several minutes Shirley stood still, not knowing whether to advance or to take a seat.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
poseverbUS /poʊz/
introduce
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
preoccupiedadjectiveUS /priˈɑːkjəpaɪd/
deeply absorbed in thought
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
pretendedadjectiveUS /priˈtendɪd/
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
receivingverbUS /rəˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Mr. Ryder remained at his desk and did not even look up when his visitor entered.
Ryder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ryder remained at his desk and did not even look up when his visitor entered.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading For several minutes Shirley stood still, not knowing whether to advance or to take a seat.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading For several minutes Shirley stood still, not knowing whether to advance or to take a seat.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She gave a little conventional cough, and Ryder looked up.
Shirley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For several minutes Shirley stood still, not knowing whether to advance or to take a seat.
not in physical motion
From this reading For several minutes Shirley stood still, not knowing whether to advance or to take a seat.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading For several minutes Shirley stood still, not knowing whether to advance or to take a seat.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
carry out
From this reading For several minutes Shirley stood still, not knowing whether to advance or to take a seat.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Mr. Ryder remained at his desk and did not even look up when his visitor entered.
under normal conditions
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
someone who visits
From this reading Mr. Ryder remained at his desk and did not even look up when his visitor entered.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading This frigid reception invariably served its purpose, for it led visitors not to expect more than they got, which usually was little enough.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
at the time that
From this reading Mr. Ryder remained at his desk and did not even look up when his visitor entered.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading For several minutes Shirley stood still, not knowing whether to advance or to take a seat.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He pretended to be busily preoccupied with his papers, which was a favourite pose of his when receiving strangers.
