used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
adjustingverbUS /əˈdʒʌstɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjust” — alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
From this reading "Yes?" said Charles-Norton, adjusting his neck-tie and looking at the calendar.
(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 "We work all night to-night, Mr. Sims."
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Yes?" said Charles-Norton, adjusting his neck-tie and looking at the calendar.
financial assistance in time of need
From this reading Twice a year, on a day in December and a day in June, a part of the force worked all night to prepare a statistical table for the benefit of the stockholders.
calendarnounUS /ˈkæləndər/
a system of timekeeping that defines the beginning and length and divisions of the year
From this reading "Yes?" said Charles-Norton, adjusting his neck-tie and looking at the calendar.
CatastrophenounUS /kəˈtæstrəfi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
Charles-Norton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes?" said Charles-Norton, adjusting his neck-tie and looking at the calendar.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Twice a year, on a day in December and a day in June, a part of the force worked all night to prepare a statistical table for the benefit of the stockholders.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading Twice a year, on a day in December and a day in June, a part of the force worked all night to prepare a statistical table for the benefit of the stockholders.
drabadjectiveUS /dræb/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was not surprised, for this happened twice a year.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Twice a year, on a day in December and a day in June, a part of the force worked all night to prepare a statistical table for the benefit of the stockholders.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading He was not surprised, for this happened twice a year.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was not surprised, for this happened twice a year.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Yes?" said Charles-Norton, adjusting his neck-tie and looking at the calendar.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Twice a year, on a day in December and a day in June, a part of the force worked all night to prepare a statistical table for the benefit of the stockholders.
insignificantadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsɪɡˈnjɪfɪkənt/
signifying nothing
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
introducesverbUS /ˌɪntrəˈduːsɪz/
third-person singular of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading Twice a year, on a day in December and a day in June, a part of the force worked all night to prepare a statistical table for the benefit of the stockholders.
and nothing more
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "Yes?" said Charles-Norton, adjusting his neck-tie and looking at the calendar.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "We work all night to-night, Mr. Sims."
neck-tie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes?" said Charles-Norton, adjusting his neck-tie and looking at the calendar.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "We work all night to-night, Mr. Sims."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not surprised, for this happened twice a year.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Twice a year, on a day in December and a day in June, a part of the force worked all night to prepare a statistical table for the benefit of the stockholders.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Twice a year, on a day in December and a day in June, a part of the force worked all night to prepare a statistical table for the benefit of the stockholders.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Twice a year, on a day in December and a day in June, a part of the force worked all night to prepare a statistical table for the benefit of the stockholders.
prepareverbUS /priˈper/
make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading Twice a year, on a day in December and a day in June, a part of the force worked all night to prepare a statistical table for the benefit of the stockholders.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Yes?" said Charles-Norton, adjusting his neck-tie and looking at the calendar.
seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
Sims
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We work all night to-night, Mr. Sims."
statisticaladjectiveUS /stəˈtɪstɪkəl/
of or relating to statistics
From this reading Twice a year, on a day in December and a day in June, a part of the force worked all night to prepare a statistical table for the benefit of the stockholders.
stockholdersnounUS /ˈstɑːkhoʊldərz/
plural of “stockholder” — someone who holds shares of stock in a corporation
From this reading Twice a year, on a day in December and a day in June, a part of the force worked all night to prepare a statistical table for the benefit of the stockholders.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading He was not surprised, for this happened twice a year.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Twice a year, on a day in December and a day in June, a part of the force worked all night to prepare a statistical table for the benefit of the stockholders.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Yes?" said Charles-Norton, adjusting his neck-tie and looking at the calendar.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He was not surprised, for this happened twice a year.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Twice a year, on a day in December and a day in June, a part of the force worked all night to prepare a statistical table for the benefit of the stockholders.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We work all night to-night, Mr. Sims."
two times
From this reading He was not surprised, for this happened twice a year.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was not surprised, for this happened twice a year.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We work all night to-night, Mr. Sims."
in the company of; together with
From this reading It is always with just such a sentence, quiet, drab, and seemingly insignificant, that Mr. Catastrophe introduces himself.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading "We work all night to-night, Mr. Sims."
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Twice a year, on a day in December and a day in June, a part of the force worked all night to prepare a statistical table for the benefit of the stockholders.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading He was not surprised, for this happened twice a year.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes?" said Charles-Norton, adjusting his neck-tie and looking at the calendar.
