used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
apologizeverbUS /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪz/
acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing
From this reading "I have to apologize for leaving you standing in the hall, Mr. Sturgis.
from appearances alone
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
lacking funds
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
chemist'snoun
a retail shop where medicine and other articles are sold
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
intentionally conceived
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
contemplationnounUS /ˌkɑːntəmˈpleɪʃən/
a long and thoughtful observation
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
EXTENSIONnounUS /ɪkˈstenʃən/
a mutually agreed delay in the date set for the completion of a job or payment of a debt
From this reading THE EXTENSION.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I have to apologize for leaving you standing in the hall, Mr. Sturgis.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I have to apologize for leaving you standing in the hall, Mr. Sturgis.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I have to apologize for leaving you standing in the hall, Mr. Sturgis.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
immediately past
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
lastedverbUS /ˈlæstəd/
past form of “last” — persist for a specified period of time
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
the act of departing
From this reading "I have to apologize for leaving you standing in the hall, Mr. Sturgis.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "I have to apologize for leaving you standing in the hall, Mr. Sturgis.
Murdock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
Murdock's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
easily agitated
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
on one occasion
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
paintingsnounUS /ˈpeɪntɪŋz/
plural of “painting” — graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
piercingadjectiveUS /ˈpɪrsɪŋ/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
reporternounUS /rɪˈpɔːrtər/
a person who investigates and reports or edits news stories
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
self-possessedadjective
in full control of your faculties
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
with low volume
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
having a supporting base
From this reading "I have to apologize for leaving you standing in the hall, Mr. Sturgis.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
Sturgis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE EXTENSION.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Although the reporter did not turn his head, he at once became conscious that the chemist's piercing eyes were fixed upon him.
at the time that
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A few minutes later, Sturgis, apparently absorbed in the contemplation of the paintings which hung in the hall, heard the door of Murdock's study open softly.
wontnounUS /woʊnt/
an established custom
From this reading The observation lasted so long that Sturgis, self-possessed as was his wont, was beginning to feel a trifle nervous, when at last Doctor Murdock broke the silence.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I have to apologize for leaving you standing in the hall, Mr. Sturgis.
