used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading While awaiting the arrival of the Headquarters men, the coroner busied himself with a preliminary examination of the clerks.
addressingverbUS /əˈdresɪŋ/
-ing form of “address” — speak to
From this reading "Gentlemen, I am Coroner Hart," he announced, stepping into the outer office and addressing the assembled clerks.
adoptverbUS /əˈdɑːpt/
choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
(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 "I shall immediately begin a preliminary inquest and you will all regard yourselves summoned as witnesses.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "Gentlemen, I am Coroner Hart," he announced, stepping into the outer office and addressing the assembled clerks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading "Gentlemen, I am Coroner Hart," he announced, stepping into the outer office and addressing the assembled clerks.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading While awaiting the arrival of the Headquarters men, the coroner busied himself with a preliminary examination of the clerks.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I shall immediately begin a preliminary inquest and you will all regard yourselves summoned as witnesses.
assembledverbUS /əˈsembəld/
past form of “assemble” — create by putting components or members together
From this reading "Gentlemen, I am Coroner Hart," he announced, stepping into the outer office and addressing the assembled clerks.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
awaitingverbUS /əˈweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading While awaiting the arrival of the Headquarters men, the coroner busied himself with a preliminary examination of the clerks.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The coroner was a small, fussy individual, smooth-shaven, with reddish-brown hair brushed back in pompadour fashion.
for the reason that
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "I shall immediately begin a preliminary inquest and you will all regard yourselves summoned as witnesses.
briskadjectiveUS /brɪsk/
quick and energetic
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading The coroner was a small, fussy individual, smooth-shaven, with reddish-brown hair brushed back in pompadour fashion.
busiedverbUS /ˈbɪzid/
inflected form of “busy” — keep busy with
From this reading While awaiting the arrival of the Headquarters men, the coroner busied himself with a preliminary examination of the clerks.
clerksnounUS /klɜːrks/
plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading While awaiting the arrival of the Headquarters men, the coroner busied himself with a preliminary examination of the clerks.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
coronernounUS /ˈkɔːrənər/
a public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes
From this reading While awaiting the arrival of the Headquarters men, the coroner busied himself with a preliminary examination of the clerks.
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading While awaiting the arrival of the Headquarters men, the coroner busied himself with a preliminary examination of the clerks.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The coroner was a small, fussy individual, smooth-shaven, with reddish-brown hair brushed back in pompadour fashion.
fussyadjectiveUS /ˈfʌsi/
annoyed and irritable
From this reading The coroner was a small, fussy individual, smooth-shaven, with reddish-brown hair brushed back in pompadour fashion.
plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading "Gentlemen, I am Coroner Hart," he announced, stepping into the outer office and addressing the assembled clerks.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading The coroner was a small, fussy individual, smooth-shaven, with reddish-brown hair brushed back in pompadour fashion.
HartnounUS /hɑːrt/
United States playwright who collaborated with George S. Kaufman (1904-1961)
From this reading "Gentlemen, I am Coroner Hart," he announced, stepping into the outer office and addressing the assembled clerks.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
HeadquartersnounUS /ˈhedkwɔːrtərz/
(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise
From this reading While awaiting the arrival of the Headquarters men, the coroner busied himself with a preliminary examination of the clerks.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading While awaiting the arrival of the Headquarters men, the coroner busied himself with a preliminary examination of the clerks.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Gentlemen, I am Coroner Hart," he announced, stepping into the outer office and addressing the assembled clerks.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading "I shall immediately begin a preliminary inquest and you will all regard yourselves summoned as witnesses.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The coroner was a small, fussy individual, smooth-shaven, with reddish-brown hair brushed back in pompadour fashion.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading The coroner was a small, fussy individual, smooth-shaven, with reddish-brown hair brushed back in pompadour fashion.
inquestnounUS /ˈɪnkwest/
an inquiry into the cause of an unexpected death
From this reading "I shall immediately begin a preliminary inquest and you will all regard yourselves summoned as witnesses.
insignificantadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsɪɡˈnjɪfɪkənt/
signifying nothing
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "Gentlemen, I am Coroner Hart," he announced, stepping into the outer office and addressing the assembled clerks.
in order that something should not happen
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
the force of workers available
From this reading While awaiting the arrival of the Headquarters men, the coroner busied himself with a preliminary examination of the clerks.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While awaiting the arrival of the Headquarters men, the coroner busied himself with a preliminary examination of the clerks.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading "Gentlemen, I am Coroner Hart," he announced, stepping into the outer office and addressing the assembled clerks.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading "Gentlemen, I am Coroner Hart," he announced, stepping into the outer office and addressing the assembled clerks.
pompadournounUS /ˈpɑːmpədɔːr/
French noblewoman who was the lover of Louis XV, whose policies she influenced (1721-1764)
From this reading The coroner was a small, fussy individual, smooth-shaven, with reddish-brown hair brushed back in pompadour fashion.
preliminaryadjectiveUS /prɪˈlɪməneri/
denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important
From this reading While awaiting the arrival of the Headquarters men, the coroner busied himself with a preliminary examination of the clerks.
presumeverbUS /prɪˈzuːm/
take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
reddish-brownadjective
of brown tinged with red
From this reading The coroner was a small, fussy individual, smooth-shaven, with reddish-brown hair brushed back in pompadour fashion.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading "I shall immediately begin a preliminary inquest and you will all regard yourselves summoned as witnesses.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "I shall immediately begin a preliminary inquest and you will all regard yourselves summoned as witnesses.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The coroner was a small, fussy individual, smooth-shaven, with reddish-brown hair brushed back in pompadour fashion.
smooth-shavenadjectiveUS /ˌsmuːθˈʃeɪvən/
closely shaved recently
From this reading The coroner was a small, fussy individual, smooth-shaven, with reddish-brown hair brushed back in pompadour fashion.
staturenounUS /ˈstætʃər/
high level of respect gained by impressive development or achievement
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
steppingverbUS /ˈstepɪŋ/
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading "Gentlemen, I am Coroner Hart," he announced, stepping into the outer office and addressing the assembled clerks.
past form of “summon” — call in an official matter, such as to attend court
From this reading "I shall immediately begin a preliminary inquest and you will all regard yourselves summoned as witnesses.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While awaiting the arrival of the Headquarters men, the coroner busied himself with a preliminary examination of the clerks.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
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 Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The coroner was a small, fussy individual, smooth-shaven, with reddish-brown hair brushed back in pompadour fashion.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While awaiting the arrival of the Headquarters men, the coroner busied himself with a preliminary examination of the clerks.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "I shall immediately begin a preliminary inquest and you will all regard yourselves summoned as witnesses.
in the company of; together with
From this reading While awaiting the arrival of the Headquarters men, the coroner busied himself with a preliminary examination of the clerks.
witnessesnounUS /ˈwɪtnəsəz/
plural of “witness” — someone who sees an event and reports what happened
From this reading Because of his small stature and insignificant appearance he was compelled to adopt a brisk air of command, lest witnesses presume to trifle with his authority.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I shall immediately begin a preliminary inquest and you will all regard yourselves summoned as witnesses.
yourselvespronounUS /jʊrˈselvz/
used when the people spoken to are both doing and receiving the action
From this reading "I shall immediately begin a preliminary inquest and you will all regard yourselves summoned as witnesses.
