used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading A scowling officer admitted a man, round and short and with side whiskers, and locked the door upon his back.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Tom stared at his visitor.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading A scowling officer admitted a man, round and short and with side whiskers, and locked the door upon his back.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
CALLERnounUS /ˈkɔːlər/
a social or business visitor
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading "This is a pretty how-to-do!" growled the man, coming forward.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
dejectionnoun
a state of melancholy depression
From this reading He rose dully out of his dejection.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
dirt-browned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
dullyadverb
without liveliness
From this reading He rose dully out of his dejection.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading "This is a pretty how-to-do!" growled the man, coming forward.
gloweringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlaʊərɪŋ/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
greasyadjectiveUS /ˈɡriːsi/
containing an unusual amount of grease or oil
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
growledverbUS /ɡraʊld/
past form of “growl” — to utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds
From this reading "This is a pretty how-to-do!" growled the man, coming forward.
HASauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He rose dully out of his dejection.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
how-to-do
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This is a pretty how-to-do!" growled the man, coming forward.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "This is a pretty how-to-do!" growled the man, coming forward.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading A scowling officer admitted a man, round and short and with side whiskers, and locked the door upon his back.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A scowling officer admitted a man, round and short and with side whiskers, and locked the door upon his back.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading A scowling officer admitted a man, round and short and with side whiskers, and locked the door upon his back.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He rose dully out of his dejection.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading "This is a pretty how-to-do!" growled the man, coming forward.
rattledadjectiveUS /ˈrætəld/
thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading He rose dully out of his dejection.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading A scowling officer admitted a man, round and short and with side whiskers, and locked the door upon his back.
scowlingadjectiveUS /ˈskaʊlɪŋ/
sullen or unfriendly in appearance
From this reading A scowling officer admitted a man, round and short and with side whiskers, and locked the door upon his back.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading A scowling officer admitted a man, round and short and with side whiskers, and locked the door upon his back.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading A scowling officer admitted a man, round and short and with side whiskers, and locked the door upon his back.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Tom stared at his visitor.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
tenantsnounUS /ˈtenənts/
plural of “tenant” — someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car that is owned by someone else
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This is a pretty how-to-do!" growled the man, coming forward.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
male cat
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
transitoryadjectiveUS /ˈtrænzətɔːri/
lasting a very short time
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A scowling officer admitted a man, round and short and with side whiskers, and locked the door upon his back.
someone who visits
From this reading Tom stared at his visitor.
whiskersnounUS /ˈwɪskərz/
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading A scowling officer admitted a man, round and short and with side whiskers, and locked the door upon his back.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A scowling officer admitted a man, round and short and with side whiskers, and locked the door upon his back.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading TOM HAS A CALLER Late in the afternoon, as Tom lay stretched in glowering melancholy on the greasy, dirt-browned board that did service as chair and bed to the transitory tenants of the cell, steps paused in the corridor without and a key rattled in his door.
