used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Zero accepted metropolitan life philosophically.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had a small flat in St James's Place, and thither he brought Zero.
assurancenounUS /əˈʃʊrəns/
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading He looked mildly puzzled at her definite assurance that she would kill him if he came a step nearer.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looked mildly puzzled at her definite assurance that she would kill him if he came a step nearer.
basementnounUS /ˈbeɪsmənt/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading There was a dingy cat in the basement of St James's Place, and he was quite willing to make friends with her.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading He had a small flat in St James's Place, and thither he brought Zero.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He looked mildly puzzled at her definite assurance that she would kill him if he came a step nearer.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading There was a dingy cat in the basement of St James's Place, and he was quite willing to make friends with her.
a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading He looked mildly puzzled at her definite assurance that she would kill him if he came a step nearer.
dingyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪndʒi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading There was a dingy cat in the basement of St James's Place, and he was quite willing to make friends with her.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading He had a small flat in St James's Place, and thither he brought Zero.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading There was a dingy cat in the basement of St James's Place, and he was quite willing to make friends with her.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had a small flat in St James's Place, and thither he brought Zero.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had a small flat in St James's Place, and thither he brought Zero.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There was a dingy cat in the basement of St James's Place, and he was quite willing to make friends with her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He looked mildly puzzled at her definite assurance that she would kill him if he came a step nearer.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He looked mildly puzzled at her definite assurance that she would kill him if he came a step nearer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
James'snounUS /ˈdʒeɪmzɪz/
possessive form of “james” — a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading He had a small flat in St James's Place, and thither he brought Zero.
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading He looked mildly puzzled at her definite assurance that she would kill him if he came a step nearer.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Zero accepted metropolitan life philosophically.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked mildly puzzled at her definite assurance that she would kill him if he came a step nearer.
engage in
From this reading There was a dingy cat in the basement of St James's Place, and he was quite willing to make friends with her.
metropolitanadjectiveUS /ˌmetrəˈpɑːlətən/
relating to or characteristic of a metropolis
From this reading Zero accepted metropolitan life philosophically.
mildlyadverbUS /ˈmaɪldli/
to a moderate degree
From this reading He looked mildly puzzled at her definite assurance that she would kill him if he came a step nearer.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading He looked mildly puzzled at her definite assurance that she would kill him if he came a step nearer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
old-established
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
partnernounUS /ˈpɑːrtnər/
a person's partner in marriage
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
philosophicallyadverbUS /ˌfɪləˈsɑːfɪkəli/
in a philosophic manner
From this reading Zero accepted metropolitan life philosophically.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He had a small flat in St James's Place, and thither he brought Zero.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading He looked mildly puzzled at her definite assurance that she would kill him if he came a step nearer.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading There was a dingy cat in the basement of St James's Place, and he was quite willing to make friends with her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He looked mildly puzzled at her definite assurance that she would kill him if he came a step nearer.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had a small flat in St James's Place, and thither he brought Zero.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a small flat in St James's Place, and thither he brought Zero.
StainesverbUS /steɪnz/
third-person singular of “stain” — color with a liquid dye or tint
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading He looked mildly puzzled at her definite assurance that she would kill him if he came a step nearer.
stockbrokersnounUS /ˈstɑːkbroʊkərz/
plural of “stockbroker” — an agent in the buying and selling of stocks and bonds
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
successionnounUS /səkˈseʃən/
a following of one thing after another in time
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He looked mildly puzzled at her definite assurance that she would kill him if he came a step nearer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a dingy cat in the basement of St James's Place, and he was quite willing to make friends with her.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a dingy cat in the basement of St James's Place, and he was quite willing to make friends with her.
an old word meaning “to that place”
From this reading He had a small flat in St James's Place, and thither he brought Zero.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading There was a dingy cat in the basement of St James's Place, and he was quite willing to make friends with her.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Staines was a partner in succession to his father in an old-established firm of stockbrokers with a good connection.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He looked mildly puzzled at her definite assurance that she would kill him if he came a step nearer.
ZeroadjectiveUS /ˈzɪroʊ/
indicating the absence of any or all units under consideration
From this reading He had a small flat in St James's Place, and thither he brought Zero.
