used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Her requests for an interview had been met with curt refusals.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Annie entered the presence of the famous lawyer pale and ill at ease.
Annie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annie entered the presence of the famous lawyer pale and ill at ease.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Annie entered the presence of the famous lawyer pale and ill at ease.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They either said the judge was out of town or else that he was too busy to be seen.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Her requests for an interview had been met with curt refusals.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
Brewster's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading They either said the judge was out of town or else that he was too busy to be seen.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
clerksnounUS /klɜːrks/
plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
covertnounUS /ˈkoʊvərt/
a flock of coots
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
curtadjectiveUS /kɜːrt/
marked by rude or peremptory shortness
From this reading Her requests for an interview had been met with curt refusals.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
move gently or carefully
From this reading Annie entered the presence of the famous lawyer pale and ill at ease.
one or the other of two
From this reading They either said the judge was out of town or else that he was too busy to be seen.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They either said the judge was out of town or else that he was too busy to be seen.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Annie entered the presence of the famous lawyer pale and ill at ease.
exposedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspoʊzd/
with no protection or shield
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
widely known and esteemed
From this reading Annie entered the presence of the famous lawyer pale and ill at ease.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They either said the judge was out of town or else that he was too busy to be seen.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her requests for an interview had been met with curt refusals.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading Annie entered the presence of the famous lawyer pale and ill at ease.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading Her requests for an interview had been met with curt refusals.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading Annie entered the presence of the famous lawyer pale and ill at ease.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Her requests for an interview had been met with curt refusals.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Annie entered the presence of the famous lawyer pale and ill at ease.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They either said the judge was out of town or else that he was too busy to be seen.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They either said the judge was out of town or else that he was too busy to be seen.
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading Annie entered the presence of the famous lawyer pale and ill at ease.
premisesnounUS /ˈpreməsəz/
land and the buildings on it
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Annie entered the presence of the famous lawyer pale and ill at ease.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
refusalsnounUS /rɪˈfjuːzəlz/
plural of “refusal” — the act of refusing
From this reading Her requests for an interview had been met with curt refusals.
requestsnounUS /rɪˈkwests/
plural of “request” — a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority
From this reading Her requests for an interview had been met with curt refusals.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading They either said the judge was out of town or else that he was too busy to be seen.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They either said the judge was out of town or else that he was too busy to be seen.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
smilesnounUS /smaɪlz/
plural of “smile” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
stareverbUS /ster/
look at with fixed eyes
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
a request to be present
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Annie entered the presence of the famous lawyer pale and ill at ease.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They either said the judge was out of town or else that he was too busy to be seen.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
thoughtlessadjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtləs/
showing lack of careful thought
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For days she had haunted the premises, sitting in the outer office for hours at a time exposed to the stare and covert smiles of thoughtless clerks and office boys.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading They either said the judge was out of town or else that he was too busy to be seen.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading They either said the judge was out of town or else that he was too busy to be seen.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This sudden summons to Judge Brewster's private office was so unexpected that it came like a shock.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her requests for an interview had been met with curt refusals.
