used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading The apartment was plainly and handsomely furnished.
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading The documents which cumbered it were arranged in methodical little heaps.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His manager stood by his side, with a long slip of paper in his hand.
controlledadjectiveUS /kənˈtroʊld/
restrained or managed or kept within certain bounds
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
cumbered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The documents which cumbered it were arranged in methodical little heaps.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
documentsnounUS /ˈdɑːkjəmənts/
plural of “document” — writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading The documents which cumbered it were arranged in methodical little heaps.
chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading The apartment was plainly and handsomely furnished.
genialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒiːnjəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading His manager stood by his side, with a long slip of paper in his hand.
handsomelyadverbUS /ˈhænsəmli/
in an attractively handsome manner
From this reading The apartment was plainly and handsomely furnished.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
heapsnounUS /hiːps/
a large number or amount
From this reading The documents which cumbered it were arranged in methodical little heaps.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The documents which cumbered it were arranged in methodical little heaps.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The documents which cumbered it were arranged in methodical little heaps.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading His manager stood by his side, with a long slip of paper in his hand.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
managernounUS /ˈmænədʒər/
someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading His manager stood by his side, with a long slip of paper in his hand.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
methodicaladjectiveUS /məˈθɑːdəkəl/
characterized by method and orderliness
From this reading The documents which cumbered it were arranged in methodical little heaps.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
and nothing more
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
operatornounUS /ˈɑːpəreɪtər/
(mathematics) a symbol or function representing a mathematical operation
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading His manager stood by his side, with a long slip of paper in his hand.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
Phipps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The apartment was plainly and handsomely furnished.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
prototypenounUS /ˈproʊtətaɪp/
a standard or typical example
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
shrewdadjectiveUS /ʃruːd/
marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading His manager stood by his side, with a long slip of paper in his hand.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
move stealthily
From this reading His manager stood by his side, with a long slip of paper in his hand.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
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 Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
precisely as stated
From this reading Peter Phipps, sitting in his private office, might have served as the very prototype of a genial, shrewd and successful business man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The apartment was plainly and handsomely furnished.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The documents which cumbered it were arranged in methodical little heaps.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The documents which cumbered it were arranged in methodical little heaps.
which person or people
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
wiresnounUS /ˈwaɪərz/
plural of “wire” — ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His manager stood by his side, with a long slip of paper in his hand.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Although, only a few yards away, was a private exchange and an operator who controlled many private wires, a single telephone only stood upon his desk.
