used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading Godfrey rose with an alert expectancy that he took no trouble to conceal.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Godfrey rose with an alert expectancy that he took no trouble to conceal.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Bannister carefully shook his left trouser in an attempt to stabilise an immaculate crease.
BannisternounUS /ˈbænəstər/
English runner who in 1954 became the first person to run a mile in less than four minutes (born in 1929)
From this reading Bannister carefully shook his left trouser in an attempt to stabilise an immaculate crease.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading The silence was soon disturbed by the ringing of the front door bell.
Bertenshaw's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The silence was soon disturbed by the ringing of the front door bell.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading Bannister carefully shook his left trouser in an attempt to stabilise an immaculate crease.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading Godfrey rose with an alert expectancy that he took no trouble to conceal.
creaseverbUS /kriːs/
make wrinkles or creases on a smooth surface; make a pressed, folded or wrinkled line in; “crisp” is archaic
From this reading Bannister carefully shook his left trouser in an attempt to stabilise an immaculate crease.
having the place or position changed
From this reading The silence was soon disturbed by the ringing of the front door bell.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The silence was soon disturbed by the ringing of the front door bell.
without doubt; certainly
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
expectancynounUS /ɪkˈspektənsi/
an expectation
From this reading Godfrey rose with an alert expectancy that he took no trouble to conceal.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading The silence was soon disturbed by the ringing of the front door bell.
Godfrey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Godfrey rose with an alert expectancy that he took no trouble to conceal.
feeling or showing gratitude
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Godfrey rose with an alert expectancy that he took no trouble to conceal.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
heraldedadjectiveUS /ˈherəldɪd/
publicly announced
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Bannister carefully shook his left trouser in an attempt to stabilise an immaculate crease.
hurryingadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːriɪŋ/
moving with great haste
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
immaculateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmækjuːlɪt/
completely neat and clean
From this reading Bannister carefully shook his left trouser in an attempt to stabilise an immaculate crease.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Bannister carefully shook his left trouser in an attempt to stabilise an immaculate crease.
Martin'snounUS /ˈmɑːrtənz/
possessive form of “martin” — French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
the force of workers available
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
not any; not one
From this reading Godfrey rose with an alert expectancy that he took no trouble to conceal.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The silence was soon disturbed by the ringing of the front door bell.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
respitenounUS /ˈrespɪt/
a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading The silence was soon disturbed by the ringing of the front door bell.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Godfrey rose with an alert expectancy that he took no trouble to conceal.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading Bannister carefully shook his left trouser in an attempt to stabilise an immaculate crease.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
smokedadjectiveUS /smoʊkt/
(used especially of meats and fish) dried and cured by hanging in wood smoke
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
in the near future
From this reading The silence was soon disturbed by the ringing of the front door bell.
stabiliseverb
support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace
From this reading Bannister carefully shook his left trouser in an attempt to stabilise an immaculate crease.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Godfrey rose with an alert expectancy that he took no trouble to conceal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Godfrey rose with an alert expectancy that he took no trouble to conceal.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Godfrey rose with an alert expectancy that he took no trouble to conceal.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Godfrey rose with an alert expectancy that he took no trouble to conceal.
trousernounUS /ˈtraʊzər/
a garment (or part of a garment) designed for or relating to trousers
From this reading Bannister carefully shook his left trouser in an attempt to stabilise an immaculate crease.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading John Martin’s Evidence For a few moments the two men smoked in silence, grateful doubtless for the short respite.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The silence was soon disturbed by the ringing of the front door bell.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
belonging to which person
From this reading Mrs. Bertenshaw’s steps were heard hurrying to the front door to admit the two people whose visit had been so recently heralded by the telephone.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Godfrey rose with an alert expectancy that he took no trouble to conceal.
