used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
matters of personal concern
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
AnthonynounUS /ˈænθəni/
Roman general under Julius Caesar in the Gallic wars; repudiated his wife for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra; they were defeated by Octavian at Actium (83-30 BC)
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
bachelornounUS /ˈbætʃələr/
a man who has never been married
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Mr. Brimsdown had discovered it in a Kingsway curiosity shop a week before.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
braceletnounUS /ˈbreɪslət/
a band of cloth or leather or metal links attached to a wristwatch and wrapped around the wrist
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
Brimsdown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
a period of 100 years
From this reading It was a portable sun-dial of the sixteenth century.
chambersnounUS /ˈtʃeɪmbərz/
English architect (1723-1796)
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
clamourverbUS /ˈklæmər/
utter or proclaim insistently and noisily
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading Mr. Brimsdown had discovered it in a Kingsway curiosity shop a week before.
darkenedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənd/
(of fabrics and paper) grown dark in color over time
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Mr. Brimsdown had discovered it in a Kingsway curiosity shop a week before.
disregardverbUS /ˌdɪsrɪˈɡɑːrd/
refuse to acknowledge
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
engravedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈɡreɪvd/
cut or impressed into a surface
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
examiningverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
coins made of gold
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr. Brimsdown had discovered it in a Kingsway curiosity shop a week before.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
hoopnounUS /huːp/
a light curved skeleton to spread out a skirt
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
located inward
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
insistentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstənt/
repetitive and persistent
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
Kingsway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Brimsdown had discovered it in a Kingsway curiosity shop a week before.
immediately past
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
the act of departing
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
the literary culture
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
mechanismnounUS /ˈmekənɪzəm/
the atomic process that occurs during a chemical reaction
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
a form of address for a man
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
the fourth book of the Old Testament; contains a record of the number of Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
obediencenounUS /oʊˈbiːdiəns/
the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
go across or through
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
portableadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrtəbəl/
easily or conveniently transported
From this reading It was a portable sun-dial of the sixteenth century.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
respondingverbUS /rɪˈspɑːndɪŋ/
-ing form of “respond” — show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
do one's shopping
From this reading Mr. Brimsdown had discovered it in a Kingsway curiosity shop a week before.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
sixteenthadjectiveUS /sɪkˈstiːnθ/
coming next after the fifteenth in position
From this reading It was a portable sun-dial of the sixteenth century.
slitnounUS /slɪt/
a long narrow opening
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
having a supporting base
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
sun-dial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a portable sun-dial of the sixteenth century.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
trinketnounUS /ˈtrɪŋkət/
cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
tumbledverbUS /ˈtʌmbəld/
past form of “tumble” — fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
unnoticedadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊtɪst/
not noticed
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Mr. Brimsdown had discovered it in a Kingsway curiosity shop a week before.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As an elderly bachelor, living alone, he was sufficiently master of his own affairs to disregard the arrival of the last post, leaving the letters as they were tumbled through the slit in the door downstairs until he felt inclined to go and get them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The bell in the darkened chambers rang with the insistent clamour of mechanism responding with blind obedience to a human hand, but Mr. Anthony Brimsdown suffered it to pass unnoticed.
zodiacnounUS /ˈzoʊdiæk/
a belt-shaped region in the heavens on either side to the ecliptic; divided into 12 constellations or signs for astrological purposes
From this reading He was standing in the centre of the room examining an unusual trinket--a gold hoop like a bracelet, with numbers and the zodiac signs engraved on the inner surface.
