used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
aloofnessnounUS /əˈluːfnəs/
indifference by personal withdrawal
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
AssuredlyadverbUS /əˈʃʊrədli/
without a doubt
From this reading "Assuredly!"
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
blendingnounUS /ˈblendɪŋ/
the act of blending components together thoroughly
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
determine the number or amount of
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
courtesynounUS /ˈkɜːrtəsi/
a courteous or respectful or considerate act
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
discussedverbUS /dɪˈskʌst/
past form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
entertainingadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnɪŋ/
agreeably diverting
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
inflectionnounUS /ˌɪnˈflekʃən/
a change in the form of a word (usually by adding a suffix) to indicate a change in its grammatical function
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
introductionsnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃənz/
plural of “introduction” — the act of beginning something new
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
Itokai
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
JapanesenounUS /ˌdʒæpəˈniːz/
a native or inhabitant of Japan
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
McCalloway's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
not any; not one
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
a brief written record
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
officialdomnounUS /əˈfɪʃəldəm/
people elected or appointed to administer a government
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
perfectionnounUS /pərˈfekʃən/
the state of being without a flaw or defect
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
politenessnounUS /pəˈlaɪtnəs/
a courteous manner that respects accepted social usage
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
precisionnounUS /priˈsɪʒən/
the quality of being reproducible in amount or performance
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/
a result
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
unmistakableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnmɪˈsteɪkəbəl/
clearly evident to the mind
From this reading The courtesy of manner and the precision of inflection had the perfection of Japanese officialdom, but McCalloway's response succeeded in blending with an equal politeness a note of unmistakable aloofness.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
at the time that
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
a Caucasian
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading "As you wish, gentlemen, though there is no matter concerning myself which might not be discussed in the presence of these friends."
in the company of; together with
From this reading When general introductions had followed, the Count Itokai smiled, with a flash of white and strong teeth.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "We have come to present a certain matter to you--but we find you entertaining guests--so the business can wait."
