used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading “It _would_ seem absurd,” declared Mrs. Tremaine, though there was the briefest touch of hesitation in her tone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “I wouldn’t believe _that_—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
any person at all
From this reading “I wouldn’t believe _that_—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
any thing at all
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I wouldn’t believe _that_—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
BOAT-CALL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
briefestadjectiveUS /ˈbriːfəst/
superlative of “brief” — of short duration or distance
From this reading “It _would_ seem absurd,” declared Mrs. Tremaine, though there was the briefest touch of hesitation in her tone.
buzzingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌzɪŋ/
noisy like the sound of a bee
From this reading “Confound my buzzing head!
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
ConfoundverbUS /kɑːnˈfaʊnd/
be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly
From this reading “Confound my buzzing head!
made known or openly avowed
From this reading “I wouldn’t believe _that_—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
Dixon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
eloquentadjectiveUS /ˈeləkwənt/
expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
From this reading Skipper Tom thanked her with a swift, eloquent glance.
eye-witness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I wouldn’t believe _that_—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Skipper Tom thanked her with a swift, eloquent glance.
half-purring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading “Confound my buzzing head!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Skipper Tom thanked her with a swift, eloquent glance.
hesitationnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃən/
indecision in speech or action
From this reading “It _would_ seem absurd,” declared Mrs. Tremaine, though there was the briefest touch of hesitation in her tone.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “I wouldn’t believe _that_—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I wouldn’t believe _that_—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
IdanounUS /ˈaɪdə/
an agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank
From this reading “I wouldn’t believe _that_—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I wouldn’t believe _that_—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It _would_ seem absurd,” declared Mrs. Tremaine, though there was the briefest touch of hesitation in her tone.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “It _would_ seem absurd,” declared Mrs. Tremaine, though there was the briefest touch of hesitation in her tone.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Confound my buzzing head!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I wouldn’t believe _that_—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
OlivernounUS /ˈɑːləvər/
United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
with little or no delay
From this reading “I wouldn’t believe _that_—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
reluctantadjectiveUS /rɪˈlʌktənt/
unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading “It _would_ seem absurd,” declared Mrs. Tremaine, though there was the briefest touch of hesitation in her tone.
Silsbee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I wouldn’t believe _that_—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
SkippernounUS /ˈskɪpər/
a student who fails to attend classes
From this reading Skipper Tom thanked her with a swift, eloquent glance.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
moving very fast
From this reading Skipper Tom thanked her with a swift, eloquent glance.
sworeverbUS /swɔːr/
inflected form of “swear” — utter obscenities or profanities
From this reading “I wouldn’t believe _that_—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
thankedverbUS /θæŋkt/
past form of “thank” — express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading Skipper Tom thanked her with a swift, eloquent glance.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I wouldn’t believe _that_—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “It _would_ seem absurd,” declared Mrs. Tremaine, though there was the briefest touch of hesitation in her tone.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
male cat
From this reading Skipper Tom thanked her with a swift, eloquent glance.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading “It _would_ seem absurd,” declared Mrs. Tremaine, though there was the briefest touch of hesitation in her tone.
Tremaine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It _would_ seem absurd,” declared Mrs. Tremaine, though there was the briefest touch of hesitation in her tone.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It _would_ seem absurd,” declared Mrs. Tremaine, though there was the briefest touch of hesitation in her tone.
WE'D
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “BOAT-CALL FOR THE POLICE” “WE’D certainly hate to believe anything of the sort,” said Oliver Dixon, slowly, in a half-purring tone, though reluctant suspicion sounded in his voice.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Skipper Tom thanked her with a swift, eloquent glance.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “It _would_ seem absurd,” declared Mrs. Tremaine, though there was the briefest touch of hesitation in her tone.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I wouldn’t believe _that_—not if anyone swore himself as an eye-witness,” declared Ida Silsbee, promptly.
