used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
(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 In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
a quantity of money
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
assuringadjectiveUS /əˈʃʊrɪŋ/
giving confidence
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
bachelornounUS /ˈbætʃələr/
a man who has never been married
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
Charlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
checkverbUS /tʃek/
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
cigarsnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːrz/
plural of “cigar” — a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
countingnounUS /ˈkaʊntɪŋ/
the act of counting; reciting numbers in ascending order
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
courtsnounUS /kɔːrts/
plural of “court” — an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
disabusedadjectiveUS /dɪsəˈbjuːzd/
freed of a mistaken or misguided notion
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
discriminatingadjectiveUS /dɪˈskrɪməneɪtɪŋ/
showing or indicating careful judgment and discernment especially in matters of taste
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
having made preparations
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
drummernounUS /ˈdrʌmər/
someone who plays a drum
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
EarlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
ElnounUS /el/
angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object)
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
opinion or judgment
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
fountainnounUS /ˈfaʊntən/
a structure from which an artificially produced jet of water arises
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
genialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒiːnjəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
a man of refinement
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
GrangernounUS /ˈɡreɪndʒər/
a person who operates a farm
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
incumbentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkʌmbənt/
lying or leaning on something else
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
and nothing more
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
Kinsell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
leisurenounUS /ˈleʒər/
time available for ease and relaxation
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
limitlessadjectiveUS /ˈlɪmətləs/
without limits in extent or size or quantity
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
liquorsnounUS /ˈlɪkərz/
plural of “liquor” — an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
moustachenounUS /ˈmʌstæʃ/
an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
personalitynounUS /ˌpɜːrsəˈnælɪti/
the complex of all the attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
portlyadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrtli/
euphemisms for “fat”
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
proprietornounUS /prəˈpraɪətər/
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
registerverbUS /ˈredʒɪstər/
record in writing; enter into a book of names or events or transactions
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
scrubbingnounUS /ˈskrʌbɪŋ/
the act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
in the near future
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
express in words
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He disabused the mind of the proprietor, Charlie Granger, by assuring him that he was not a drummer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
in or at that place or location
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
Toyonnoun
ornamental evergreen treelike shrub of the Pacific coast of the United States having large white flowers and red berrylike fruits; often placed in genus Photinia
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
twinklingnounUS /ˈtwɪŋkəlɪŋ/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading In his genial way he was quite ready to tell all about himself.
in the company of; together with
From this reading UNDER THE SURFACE Early in January there arrived in El Toyon a gentleman with a scrubbing brush moustache, a pleasant, portly personality, a pair of twinkling black eyes, a seemingly limitless amount of leisure, discriminating taste for liquors and cigars, a fountain pen and a check book.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading He was an old bachelor, counting upon becoming the husband of a great little woman just as soon as the courts had disposed of the present incumbent.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading The name he wrote upon the hotel register was Edward Kinsell.
