used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
blotternounUS /ˈblɑːtər/
absorbent paper used to dry ink
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
client'snounUS /ˈklaɪənts/
possessive form of “client” — a person who seeks the advice of a lawyer
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
curriedverbUS /ˈkɜːrid/
inflected form of “curry” — season with a mixture of spices; typical of Indian cooking
From this reading "Short horse soon curried," he remarked, pulling a packet from his overcoat.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Porter looked tired and there were dark rings under his eyes.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I didn't expect you back so soon," he said.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading "I didn't expect you back so soon," he said.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Porter looked tired and there were dark rings under his eyes.
Fenton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
Fenton's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading "Short horse soon curried," he remarked, pulling a packet from his overcoat.
humoredverbUS /ˈhjuːmərd/
past form of “humor” — put into a good mood
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I didn't expect you back so soon," he said.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Porter looked tired and there were dark rings under his eyes.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
overcoatnounUS /ˈoʊvərkoʊt/
a heavy coat worn over clothes in winter
From this reading "Short horse soon curried," he remarked, pulling a packet from his overcoat.
packetnounUS /ˈpækət/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading "Short horse soon curried," he remarked, pulling a packet from his overcoat.
pensnounUS /penz/
plural of “pen” — a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
perforceadverbUS /pərˈfɔːrs/
by necessity; by force of circumstance
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
PORTERnounUS /ˈpɔːrtər/
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you
From this reading "Short horse soon curried," he remarked, pulling a packet from his overcoat.
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading "Short horse soon curried," he remarked, pulling a packet from his overcoat.
RETURNSnounUS /rɪˈtɜːrnz/
plural of “return” — document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
ringsnounUS /rɪŋz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises
From this reading Porter looked tired and there were dark rings under his eyes.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I didn't expect you back so soon," he said.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading "Short horse soon curried," he remarked, pulling a packet from his overcoat.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "I didn't expect you back so soon," he said.
in the near future
From this reading "I didn't expect you back so soon," he said.
straightenedverbUS /ˈstreɪtənd/
past form of “straighten” — straighten up or out; make straight
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Porter looked tired and there were dark rings under his eyes.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading Porter looked tired and there were dark rings under his eyes.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Porter looked tired and there were dark rings under his eyes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Porter looked tired and there were dark rings under his eyes.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
whimsnounUS /wɪmz/
plural of “whim” — a sudden desire
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
which person or people
From this reading He always did this, and Fenton, who humored his best client's whims perforce, pushed back the law book which he was reading and straightened the pens on his blotter.
WILLIAM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WILLIAM PORTER RETURNS FROM A JOURNEY Porter went into Fenton's private office and shut and locked the door after him.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I didn't expect you back so soon," he said.
