used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Well, we'll see about that.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading "H-m," said Peter to himself as he hung up, "going to ignore that trifling incident altogether, is he?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "H-m," said Peter to himself as he hung up, "going to ignore that trifling incident altogether, is he?
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
aroused or activated
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading The curious part of the telephone conversation was that McGuire made no mention of the shooting.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading The curious part of the telephone conversation was that McGuire made no mention of the shooting.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
the act of departing
From this reading "H-m," said Peter to himself as he hung up, "going to ignore that trifling incident altogether, is he?
H-m
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "H-m," said Peter to himself as he hung up, "going to ignore that trifling incident altogether, is he?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "H-m," said Peter to himself as he hung up, "going to ignore that trifling incident altogether, is he?
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/
a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading "H-m," said Peter to himself as he hung up, "going to ignore that trifling incident altogether, is he?
ignoreverbUS /ˌɪɡˈnɔːr/
refuse to acknowledge
From this reading "H-m," said Peter to himself as he hung up, "going to ignore that trifling incident altogether, is he?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
a single distinct event
From this reading "H-m," said Peter to himself as he hung up, "going to ignore that trifling incident altogether, is he?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "H-m," said Peter to himself as he hung up, "going to ignore that trifling incident altogether, is he?
janglingadjective
like the discordant ringing of nonmusical metallic objects striking together
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The curious part of the telephone conversation was that McGuire made no mention of the shooting.
McGuire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
make reference to
From this reading The curious part of the telephone conversation was that McGuire made no mention of the shooting.
not any; not one
From this reading The curious part of the telephone conversation was that McGuire made no mention of the shooting.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
and nothing more
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The curious part of the telephone conversation was that McGuire made no mention of the shooting.
perplexities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "H-m," said Peter to himself as he hung up, "going to ignore that trifling incident altogether, is he?
cut with a saw
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
shootingnounUS /ˈʃuːtɪŋ/
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading The curious part of the telephone conversation was that McGuire made no mention of the shooting.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
soundlyadverbUS /ˈsaʊndli/
deeply or completely
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
triflingnounUS /ˈtraɪflɪŋ/
the deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working
From this reading "H-m," said Peter to himself as he hung up, "going to ignore that trifling incident altogether, is he?
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "H-m," said Peter to himself as he hung up, "going to ignore that trifling incident altogether, is he?
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CONFESSION In spite of his perplexities, Peter slept soundly and was only awakened by the jangling of the telephone bell.
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, we'll see about that.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Well, we'll see about that.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But Peter wanted to do a little thinking before he saw McGuire, and he wanted to ask the housekeeper a few questions, so he told McGuire that he would see him before ten o'clock.
