used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
(of mail) marked with a destination
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
angelsnounUS /ˈeɪndʒəlz/
plural of “angel” — spiritual being attendant upon God
From this reading “Speak of angels, Henderson!” he remarked, as he passed the cable to his associate.
react verbally
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
associateverbUS /əˈsoʊsiət/
make a logical or causal connection
From this reading “Speak of angels, Henderson!” he remarked, as he passed the cable to his associate.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Well, I’ll be——” began Mr. Henderson as he hurriedly read the familiar cypher message, “Smernoff has escaped!
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “Well, I’ll be——” began Mr. Henderson as he hurriedly read the familiar cypher message, “Smernoff has escaped!
a youthful male person
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
cablenounUS /ˈkeɪbəl/
a telegram sent abroad
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
coloredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/
having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
cyphernounUS /ˈsaɪfər/
a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number
From this reading “Well, I’ll be——” began Mr. Henderson as he hurriedly read the familiar cypher message, “Smernoff has escaped!
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “What do you think of that?”
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
ejaculationnounUS /iˌdʒækjuːˈleɪʃən/
an abrupt emphatic exclamation expressing emotion
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading “Well, I’ll be——” began Mr. Henderson as he hurriedly read the familiar cypher message, “Smernoff has escaped!
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading “Well, I’ll be——” began Mr. Henderson as he hurriedly read the familiar cypher message, “Smernoff has escaped!
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
having or involving the use of hands
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Well, I’ll be——” began Mr. Henderson as he hurriedly read the familiar cypher message, “Smernoff has escaped!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
Henderson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Speak of angels, Henderson!” he remarked, as he passed the cable to his associate.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
hurriedlyadverbUS /ˈhɜːridli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading “Well, I’ll be——” began Mr. Henderson as he hurriedly read the familiar cypher message, “Smernoff has escaped!
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, I’ll be——” began Mr. Henderson as he hurriedly read the familiar cypher message, “Smernoff has escaped!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading “Well, I’ll be——” began Mr. Henderson as he hurriedly read the familiar cypher message, “Smernoff has escaped!
a form of address for a man
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading “Speak of angels, Henderson!” he remarked, as he passed the cable to his associate.
PaulingnounUS /ˈpɔːlɪŋ/
United States chemist who studied the nature of chemical bonding (1901-1994)
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading “Well, I’ll be——” began Mr. Henderson as he hurriedly read the familiar cypher message, “Smernoff has escaped!
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading “Speak of angels, Henderson!” he remarked, as he passed the cable to his associate.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
Smernoff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, I’ll be——” began Mr. Henderson as he hurriedly read the familiar cypher message, “Smernoff has escaped!
express in speech
From this reading “Speak of angels, Henderson!” he remarked, as he passed the cable to his associate.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
SURPRISESnounUS /sərˈpraɪzɪz/
plural of “surprise” — the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
possessing sweep
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “What do you think of that?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
in or at that place or location
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “What do you think of that?”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
male cat
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
Tom'snounUS /tɑːmz/
possessive form of “tom” — male cat
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
communicated in words
From this reading It was addressed to Mr. Pauling and as Tom’s father tore it open and glanced at its contents a strange expression swept over his face and he uttered a sharp ejaculation of surprise.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well, I’ll be——” began Mr. Henderson as he hurriedly read the familiar cypher message, “Smernoff has escaped!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What do you think of that?”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
the words that are spoken
From this reading SURPRISES As if in answer to his words, there was a knock at the door and as Tom opened it a colored boy handed him an envelope which he instantly recognized as a cable.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What do you think of that?”
