used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading JIMMY HAS A VISITOR "I'm going to be married, Costin," said Jimmy Challoner.
agitatedadjectiveUS /ˈædʒəteɪtɪd/
troubled emotionally and usually deeply
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
arm-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Costin was mixing a whisky-and-soda at the table, and just for an instant the syphon jerked, sending a stream of soda-water over the cloth.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading JIMMY HAS A VISITOR "I'm going to be married, Costin," said Jimmy Challoner.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "Yes, sir; certainly, sir; to--to Miss Farrow, I presoom, sir."
Challoner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMY HAS A VISITOR "I'm going to be married, Costin," said Jimmy Challoner.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading Costin was mixing a whisky-and-soda at the table, and just for an instant the syphon jerked, sending a stream of soda-water over the cloth.
Costin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMY HAS A VISITOR "I'm going to be married, Costin," said Jimmy Challoner.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
expensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspensɪv/
high in price or charging high prices
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
FarrownounUS /ˈferoʊ/
the production of a litter of pigs
From this reading "Yes, sir; certainly, sir; to--to Miss Farrow, I presoom, sir."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
the act of departing
From this reading JIMMY HAS A VISITOR "I'm going to be married, Costin," said Jimmy Challoner.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
HASauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading JIMMY HAS A VISITOR "I'm going to be married, Costin," said Jimmy Challoner.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Yes, sir; certainly, sir; to--to Miss Farrow, I presoom, sir."
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JIMMY HAS A VISITOR "I'm going to be married, Costin," said Jimmy Challoner.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Costin was mixing a whisky-and-soda at the table, and just for an instant the syphon jerked, sending a stream of soda-water over the cloth.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
jerkedverbUS /dʒɜːrkt/
past form of “jerk” — pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading Costin was mixing a whisky-and-soda at the table, and just for an instant the syphon jerked, sending a stream of soda-water over the cloth.
JIMMYverbUS /ˈdʒɪmi/
to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
From this reading JIMMY HAS A VISITOR "I'm going to be married, Costin," said Jimmy Challoner.
and nothing more
From this reading Costin was mixing a whisky-and-soda at the table, and just for an instant the syphon jerked, sending a stream of soda-water over the cloth.
staying power
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
joined in matrimony
From this reading JIMMY HAS A VISITOR "I'm going to be married, Costin," said Jimmy Challoner.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "Yes, sir; certainly, sir; to--to Miss Farrow, I presoom, sir."
mixingnounUS /ˈmɪksɪŋ/
the act of mixing together
From this reading Costin was mixing a whisky-and-soda at the table, and just for an instant the syphon jerked, sending a stream of soda-water over the cloth.
momentaryadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊmənteri/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading There was a momentary silence, then:
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Costin was mixing a whisky-and-soda at the table, and just for an instant the syphon jerked, sending a stream of soda-water over the cloth.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
presoom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, sir; certainly, sir; to--to Miss Farrow, I presoom, sir."
puffsnounUS /pʌfs/
plural of “puff” — a short light gust of air
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
on the contrary
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading JIMMY HAS A VISITOR "I'm going to be married, Costin," said Jimmy Challoner.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading Costin was mixing a whisky-and-soda at the table, and just for an instant the syphon jerked, sending a stream of soda-water over the cloth.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading There was a momentary silence, then:
term of address for a man
From this reading "Yes, sir; certainly, sir; to--to Miss Farrow, I presoom, sir."
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
soda-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Costin was mixing a whisky-and-soda at the table, and just for an instant the syphon jerked, sending a stream of soda-water over the cloth.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading Costin was mixing a whisky-and-soda at the table, and just for an instant the syphon jerked, sending a stream of soda-water over the cloth.
caught or fixed
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
syphonnounUS /ˈsaɪfən/
a tube running from the liquid in a vessel to a lower level outside the vessel so that gravity forces the liquid through the tube
From this reading Costin was mixing a whisky-and-soda at the table, and just for an instant the syphon jerked, sending a stream of soda-water over the cloth.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Costin was mixing a whisky-and-soda at the table, and just for an instant the syphon jerked, sending a stream of soda-water over the cloth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading There was a momentary silence, then:
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a momentary silence, then:
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading JIMMY HAS A VISITOR "I'm going to be married, Costin," said Jimmy Challoner.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
someone who visits
From this reading JIMMY HAS A VISITOR "I'm going to be married, Costin," said Jimmy Challoner.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
whisky-and-soda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Costin was mixing a whisky-and-soda at the table, and just for an instant the syphon jerked, sending a stream of soda-water over the cloth.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was deep in an arm-chair, with his legs stuck up on the seat of another, and he was blowing rather agitated puffs of smoke into the room from an expensive cigar, for which he had not paid.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, sir; certainly, sir; to--to Miss Farrow, I presoom, sir."
