used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a prosperous presence.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
acquiredadjectiveUS /əˈkwaɪərd/
gotten through environmental forces
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a prosperous presence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a prosperous presence.
apoplecticadjectiveUS /ˌæpəˈplektɪk/
pertaining to or characteristic of apoplexy
From this reading He wore a double-jeweled ring on his apoplectic finger, and a scarab scarf-pin.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He looked off into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in visible form before him.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He looked off into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in visible form before him.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
clutchingverbUS /ˈklʌtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
complexionnounUS /kəmˈplekʃən/
the coloring of a person's face
From this reading Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a prosperous presence.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic
From this reading He looked off into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in visible form before him.
double-jeweled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wore a double-jeweled ring on his apoplectic finger, and a scarab scarf-pin.
effulgentadjective
radiating or as if radiating light
From this reading Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a prosperous presence.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Uncle Ramsay never looked one in the face when he was talking.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading He wore a double-jeweled ring on his apoplectic finger, and a scarab scarf-pin.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading He looked off into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in visible form before him.
an established custom
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He looked off into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in visible form before him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wore a double-jeweled ring on his apoplectic finger, and a scarab scarf-pin.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He looked off into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in visible form before him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He wore a double-jeweled ring on his apoplectic finger, and a scarab scarf-pin.
imposingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ/
impressive in appearance
From this reading Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a prosperous presence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He looked off into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in visible form before him.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a prosperous presence.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Uncle Ramsay never looked one in the face when he was talking.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Uncle Ramsay never looked one in the face when he was talking.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He looked off into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in visible form before him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He wore a double-jeweled ring on his apoplectic finger, and a scarab scarf-pin.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Uncle Ramsay never looked one in the face when he was talking.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a prosperous presence.
prosperousadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːspərəs/
in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich
From this reading Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a prosperous presence.
Ramsay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Ramsay never looked one in the face when he was talking.
Ramsey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a prosperous presence.
on the contrary
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading He wore a double-jeweled ring on his apoplectic finger, and a scarab scarf-pin.
scarabnoun
scarabaeid beetle considered divine by ancient Egyptians
From this reading He wore a double-jeweled ring on his apoplectic finger, and a scarab scarf-pin.
scarf-pin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wore a double-jeweled ring on his apoplectic finger, and a scarab scarf-pin.
shiftyadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪfti/
characterized by insincerity or deceit; evasive
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
snarledadjectiveUS /ˈsnɑːrəld/
tangled in knots or snarls
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading He looked off into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in visible form before him.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Uncle Ramsay never looked one in the face when he was talking.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He looked off into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in visible form before him.
topicnounUS /ˈtɑːpɪk/
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading He looked off into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in visible form before him.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a prosperous presence.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He looked off into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in visible form before him.
viciouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪʃəsli/
in a vicious manner
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading He looked off into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in visible form before him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a prosperous presence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
at the time that
From this reading Uncle Ramsay never looked one in the face when he was talking.
in or at the place that
From this reading He looked off into space, where he appeared to have the topic under discussion in visible form before him.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading His eyes were keen and shifty; his teeth had acquired the habit of clutching his fat black cigar viciously while he snarled his rather loose lips about them in conversation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Uncle Ramsey was large and imposing, with an effulgent complexion and a prosperous presence.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading He wore a double-jeweled ring on his apoplectic finger, and a scarab scarf-pin.
