used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Fischer stood a little in the background, his eyes fixed upon Lutchester.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His brain was used to emergencies, but he found himself here confronted by an unanswerable problem.
assented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The same," Lutchester assented politely.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading Fischer stood a little in the background, his eyes fixed upon Lutchester.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading His brain was used to emergencies, but he found himself here confronted by an unanswerable problem.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His brain was used to emergencies, but he found himself here confronted by an unanswerable problem.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
confrontedverbUS /kənˈfrʌntəd/
past form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition
From this reading His brain was used to emergencies, but he found himself here confronted by an unanswerable problem.
emergenciesnounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsiz/
plural of “emergency” — a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading His brain was used to emergencies, but he found himself here confronted by an unanswerable problem.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Fischer stood a little in the background, his eyes fixed upon Lutchester.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
FischernounUS /ˈfɪʃər/
German chemist noted for his synthesis of hemin (1881-1945)
From this reading Fischer stood a little in the background, his eyes fixed upon Lutchester.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading Fischer stood a little in the background, his eyes fixed upon Lutchester.
set up or found
From this reading His brain was used to emergencies, but he found himself here confronted by an unanswerable problem.
greetingsnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋz/
plural of “greeting” — (usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "Say, this is Mr. Lutchester, isn't it?" he inquired, holding out his hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His brain was used to emergencies, but he found himself here confronted by an unanswerable problem.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading His brain was used to emergencies, but he found himself here confronted by an unanswerable problem.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His brain was used to emergencies, but he found himself here confronted by an unanswerable problem.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Fischer stood a little in the background, his eyes fixed upon Lutchester.
the act of retaining something
From this reading "Say, this is Mr. Lutchester, isn't it?" he inquired, holding out his hand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Fischer stood a little in the background, his eyes fixed upon Lutchester.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading "Say, this is Mr. Lutchester, isn't it?" he inquired, holding out his hand.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Say, this is Mr. Lutchester, isn't it?" he inquired, holding out his hand.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Say, this is Mr. Lutchester, isn't it?" he inquired, holding out his hand.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Say, this is Mr. Lutchester, isn't it?" he inquired, holding out his hand.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Fischer stood a little in the background, his eyes fixed upon Lutchester.
Lutchester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer stood a little in the background, his eyes fixed upon Lutchester.
the force of workers available
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
monopolised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Say, this is Mr. Lutchester, isn't it?" he inquired, holding out his hand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Say, this is Mr. Lutchester, isn't it?" he inquired, holding out his hand.
Pamela
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
politelyadverbUS /pəˈlaɪtli/
in a polite manner
From this reading "The same," Lutchester assented politely.
problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading His brain was used to emergencies, but he found himself here confronted by an unanswerable problem.
Identical; not different.
From this reading "The same," Lutchester assented politely.
express in words
From this reading "Say, this is Mr. Lutchester, isn't it?" he inquired, holding out his hand.
secondsnounUS /ˈsekəndz/
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Fischer stood a little in the background, his eyes fixed upon Lutchester.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Say, this is Mr. Lutchester, isn't it?" he inquired, holding out his hand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His brain was used to emergencies, but he found himself here confronted by an unanswerable problem.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
unanswerableadjectiveUS /ˌʌˈnænsərəbəl/
impossible to answer
From this reading His brain was used to emergencies, but he found himself here confronted by an unanswerable problem.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Fischer stood a little in the background, his eyes fixed upon Lutchester.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading His brain was used to emergencies, but he found himself here confronted by an unanswerable problem.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His brain was used to emergencies, but he found himself here confronted by an unanswerable problem.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The first few seconds after the entrance of the two men were monopolised by the greetings of Pamela with her brother.
