used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He extended to her the politeness accorded to an enemy before a duel.
accordedverbUS /əˈkɔːrdɪd/
past form of “accord” — go together
From this reading He extended to her the politeness accorded to an enemy before a duel.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He extended to her the politeness accorded to an enemy before a duel.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He motioned her to a seat near his desk, and took up a position on the hearthrug.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading His hands were clenched behind his back, and his whole attitude was that of a man holding himself in check.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading His hands were clenched behind his back, and his whole attitude was that of a man holding himself in check.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He extended to her the politeness accorded to an enemy before a duel.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading His hands were clenched behind his back, and his whole attitude was that of a man holding himself in check.
checkverbUS /tʃek/
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading His hands were clenched behind his back, and his whole attitude was that of a man holding himself in check.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading His hands were clenched behind his back, and his whole attitude was that of a man holding himself in check.
coldnessnounUS /ˈkoʊldnəs/
the sensation produced by low temperatures
From this reading ORMSBY REFUSES Ormsby greeted Dick's mother with marked coldness.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading His pale face was hard set, and his dark eyes gleamed.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading He motioned her to a seat near his desk, and took up a position on the hearthrug.
Dick'snounUS /dɪks/
possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective
From this reading ORMSBY REFUSES Ormsby greeted Dick's mother with marked coldness.
duelnounUS /ˈduːəl/
a prearranged fight with deadly weapons by two people (accompanied by seconds) in order to settle a quarrel over a point of honor
From this reading He extended to her the politeness accorded to an enemy before a duel.
an opposing military force
From this reading He extended to her the politeness accorded to an enemy before a duel.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading He extended to her the politeness accorded to an enemy before a duel.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His pale face was hard set, and his dark eyes gleamed.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His pale face was hard set, and his dark eyes gleamed.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading His pale face was hard set, and his dark eyes gleamed.
greetedverbUS /ˈɡriːtəd/
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading ORMSBY REFUSES Ormsby greeted Dick's mother with marked coldness.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading His hands were clenched behind his back, and his whole attitude was that of a man holding himself in check.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading His pale face was hard set, and his dark eyes gleamed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He extended to her the politeness accorded to an enemy before a duel.
hearthrugnoun
a rug spread out in front of a fireplace
From this reading He motioned her to a seat near his desk, and took up a position on the hearthrug.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He extended to her the politeness accorded to an enemy before a duel.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His hands were clenched behind his back, and his whole attitude was that of a man holding himself in check.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He motioned her to a seat near his desk, and took up a position on the hearthrug.
the act of retaining something
From this reading His hands were clenched behind his back, and his whole attitude was that of a man holding himself in check.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His hands were clenched behind his back, and his whole attitude was that of a man holding himself in check.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading His hands were clenched behind his back, and his whole attitude was that of a man holding himself in check.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading ORMSBY REFUSES Ormsby greeted Dick's mother with marked coldness.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading ORMSBY REFUSES Ormsby greeted Dick's mother with marked coldness.
motionedverbUS /ˈmoʊʃənd/
past form of “motion” — show, express or direct through movement
From this reading He motioned her to a seat near his desk, and took up a position on the hearthrug.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading He motioned her to a seat near his desk, and took up a position on the hearthrug.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His hands were clenched behind his back, and his whole attitude was that of a man holding himself in check.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He motioned her to a seat near his desk, and took up a position on the hearthrug.
ORMSBY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ORMSBY REFUSES Ormsby greeted Dick's mother with marked coldness.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading His pale face was hard set, and his dark eyes gleamed.
politenessnounUS /pəˈlaɪtnəs/
a courteous manner that respects accepted social usage
From this reading He extended to her the politeness accorded to an enemy before a duel.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading He motioned her to a seat near his desk, and took up a position on the hearthrug.
REFUSESnounUS /rəˈfjuːzəz/
plural of “refuse” — food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
From this reading ORMSBY REFUSES Ormsby greeted Dick's mother with marked coldness.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading He motioned her to a seat near his desk, and took up a position on the hearthrug.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading His pale face was hard set, and his dark eyes gleamed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His hands were clenched behind his back, and his whole attitude was that of a man holding himself in check.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He extended to her the politeness accorded to an enemy before a duel.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He extended to her the politeness accorded to an enemy before a duel.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He motioned her to a seat near his desk, and took up a position on the hearthrug.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He motioned her to a seat near his desk, and took up a position on the hearthrug.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His pale face was hard set, and his dark eyes gleamed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His hands were clenched behind his back, and his whole attitude was that of a man holding himself in check.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading His hands were clenched behind his back, and his whole attitude was that of a man holding himself in check.
in the company of; together with
From this reading ORMSBY REFUSES Ormsby greeted Dick's mother with marked coldness.
