used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading RALPH PATON’S STORY It was a very uncomfortable minute for _me_.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Poirot, too, was smiling, and at the same time shaking an eloquent finger at me.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading “Have I not told you at least thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?” he demanded.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise!
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading “Have I not told you at least thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?” he demanded.
eloquentadjectiveUS /ˈeləkwənt/
expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
From this reading Poirot, too, was smiling, and at the same time shaking an eloquent finger at me.
exclamationsnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃənz/
plural of “exclamation” — an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise!
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading Poirot, too, was smiling, and at the same time shaking an eloquent finger at me.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading RALPH PATON’S STORY It was a very uncomfortable minute for _me_.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Have I not told you at least thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?” he demanded.
the act of departing
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise!
only a very short time before
From this reading I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise!
Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Have I not told you at least thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?” he demanded.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
Hercule
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Have I not told you at least thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?” he demanded.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise!
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Have I not told you at least thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?” he demanded.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading RALPH PATON’S STORY It was a very uncomfortable minute for _me_.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading “Have I not told you at least thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?” he demanded.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading RALPH PATON’S STORY It was a very uncomfortable minute for _me_.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading RALPH PATON’S STORY It was a very uncomfortable minute for _me_.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Have I not told you at least thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?” he demanded.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
PatonnounUS /ˈpætən/
South African writer (1903-1988)
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
PATON'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RALPH PATON’S STORY It was a very uncomfortable minute for _me_.
Poirot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Poirot, too, was smiling, and at the same time shaking an eloquent finger at me.
RALPH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RALPH PATON’S STORY It was a very uncomfortable minute for _me_.
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Poirot, too, was smiling, and at the same time shaking an eloquent finger at me.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading Poirot, too, was smiling, and at the same time shaking an eloquent finger at me.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
having a supporting base
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading RALPH PATON’S STORY It was a very uncomfortable minute for _me_.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Have I not told you at least thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?” he demanded.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
in or at that place or location
From this reading I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise!
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading “Have I not told you at least thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?” he demanded.
thirty-sixadjective
being six more than thirty
From this reading “Have I not told you at least thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?” he demanded.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Poirot, too, was smiling, and at the same time shaking an eloquent finger at me.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading “Have I not told you at least thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?” he demanded.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading “Have I not told you at least thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?” he demanded.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Poirot, too, was smiling, and at the same time shaking an eloquent finger at me.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise!
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading RALPH PATON’S STORY It was a very uncomfortable minute for _me_.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading “Have I not told you at least thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?” he demanded.
precisely as stated
From this reading RALPH PATON’S STORY It was a very uncomfortable minute for _me_.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading RALPH PATON’S STORY It was a very uncomfortable minute for _me_.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I hardly took in what happened next, but there were exclamations and cries of surprise!
at the time that
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading When I was sufficiently master of myself to be able to realize what was going on, Ralph Paton was standing by his wife, her hand in his, and he was smiling across the room at me.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Have I not told you at least thirty-six times that it is useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot?” he demanded.
