used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I AM CALLED FOR CONSULTATION.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
eagerly desirous
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
ashenadjectiveUS /ˈæʃən/
anemic looking from illness or emotion
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I AM CALLED FOR CONSULTATION.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
certificatenounUS /sərˈtɪfɪkət/
a document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
a person who is in charge
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
consultverbUS /kənˈsʌlt/
get or ask advice from
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
CONSULTATIONnounUS /ˌkɑːnsəlˈteɪʃən/
a conference (usually with someone important)
From this reading I AM CALLED FOR CONSULTATION.
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Did you overhear her in the next room?"
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
having the pinkish flush of health
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I AM CALLED FOR CONSULTATION.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I AM CALLED FOR CONSULTATION.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Did you overhear her in the next room?"
a single distinct event
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
inquiringadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪərɪŋ/
given to inquiry
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
insanitynounUS /ˌɪnˈsænəti/
relatively permanent disorder of the mind
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
lunaticadjectiveUS /ˈluːnətɪk/
insane and believed to be affected by the phases of the moon
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Did you overhear her in the next room?"
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
overhearverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhiːr/
hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
From this reading Did you overhear her in the next room?"
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
puzzlingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/
not clear to the understanding
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
restraintnounUS /rɪˈstreɪnt/
the act of controlling by restraining someone or something
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Did you overhear her in the next room?"
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
a source of difficulty
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
under normal conditions
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
at the time that
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "I've been having trouble with a lunatic," he explained, after greeting me, and inquiring why I had come down to consult him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The incident was certainly a puzzling one, for when, a few minutes later, my chief entered the study, his face, usually ashen grey, was flushed with excitement.
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
but in spite of that
From this reading "The woman's people are anxious to place her under restraint; yet, for the present, there is not quite sufficient evidence of insanity to sign the certificate.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Did you overhear her in the next room?"
