used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I am a major in the Indian Army--home on leave.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Now tell me about yourself!"
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
aggressiveadjectiveUS /əˈɡresɪv/
having or showing determination and energetic pursuit of your ends
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am a major in the Indian Army--home on leave.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading "I am a major in the Indian Army--home on leave.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
of short duration or distance
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
cladadjectiveUS /klæd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
crouchedverbUS /kraʊtʃt/
past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
curtlyadverbUS /ˈkɜːrtli/
in a curt, abrupt and discourteous manner
From this reading "My name is Merryon," the man said, curtly.
past form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
great-coat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
hearthrugnoun
a rug spread out in front of a fireplace
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading "I am a major in the Indian Army--home on leave.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I am a major in the Indian Army--home on leave.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I am a major in the Indian Army--home on leave.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading "I am a major in the Indian Army--home on leave.
a message received and understood
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "My name is Merryon," the man said, curtly.
go away from a place
From this reading "I am a major in the Indian Army--home on leave.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
majoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading "I am a major in the Indian Army--home on leave.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "My name is Merryon," the man said, curtly.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now tell me about yourself!"
Merryon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "My name is Merryon," the man said, curtly.
Merryon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My name is Merryon," the man said, curtly.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "My name is Merryon," the man said, curtly.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now tell me about yourself!"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "I am a major in the Indian Army--home on leave.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "My name is Merryon," the man said, curtly.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
not in physical motion
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
express in words
From this reading Now tell me about yourself!"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "My name is Merryon," the man said, curtly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
unblinkingadjective
showing no visible emotion
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
someone who visits
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The visitor, still clad in his great-coat, crouched like a dog on the hearthrug before the fire in Merryon's sitting-room, and gazed with wide, unblinking eyes into the flames.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading He delivered the information in the brief, aggressive fashion that seemed to be characteristic of him, and he looked over the head of his young visitor as he did so, almost as if he made the statement against his will.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading Now tell me about yourself!"
