used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “You are not disturbing me at all,” Thorndyke replied.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
apologizeverbUS /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪz/
acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “You are not disturbing me at all,” Thorndyke replied.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “To me?” asked Penfield.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “You are not disturbing me at all,” Thorndyke replied.
bestowedverbUS /bɪˈstoʊd/
past form of “bestow” — present
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
communicateverbUS /kəˈmjuːnəkeɪt/
transmit information
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
communicationnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/
the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading “On the contrary, I expect that your visit will save me the necessity of writing a letter.”
correspondencenounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndəns/
communication by the exchange of letters
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
disturbingadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ/
causing distress or worry or anxiety
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading “On the contrary, I expect that your visit will save me the necessity of writing a letter.”
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
formaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/
being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading “On the contrary, I expect that your visit will save me the necessity of writing a letter.”
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
engage in
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “You are not disturbing me at all,” Thorndyke replied.
a form of address for a man
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading “On the contrary, I expect that your visit will save me the necessity of writing a letter.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “You are not disturbing me at all,” Thorndyke replied.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “On the contrary, I expect that your visit will save me the necessity of writing a letter.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “On the contrary, I expect that your visit will save me the necessity of writing a letter.”
Penfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
personallyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrsənəli/
as yourself
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
on the contrary
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
ReceivesverbUS /rəˈsiːvz/
third-person singular of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “You are not disturbing me at all,” Thorndyke replied.
rheumaticnounUS /ruːˈmætɪk/
a person suffering with rheumatism
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
except for; apart from
From this reading “On the contrary, I expect that your visit will save me the necessity of writing a letter.”
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
Thorndyke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
usheredverbUS /ˈʌʃərd/
past form of “usher” — take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “On the contrary, I expect that your visit will save me the necessity of writing a letter.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading In Which Mr. Penfield Receives a Shock Mr. Penfield greeted Thorndyke with a little stiff bow and bestowed upon the extended hand a formal and somewhat rheumatic shake.
the act of creating written works
From this reading “On the contrary, I expect that your visit will save me the necessity of writing a letter.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I must apologize,” he said, as his host ushered him into the room, “for disturbing you by this visit, but I had a little matter to communicate to you and thought it better to make that communication personally rather than by correspondence.”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “On the contrary, I expect that your visit will save me the necessity of writing a letter.”
