used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In fact, he appeared to be a little anxious.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He walked briskly into the sitting-room and looked quickly from Bruce to Robin.
eagerly desirous
From this reading In fact, he appeared to be a little anxious.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading In fact, he appeared to be a little anxious.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In fact, he appeared to be a little anxious.
brisklyadverbUS /ˈbrɪskli/
in a brisk manner
From this reading He walked briskly into the sitting-room and looked quickly from Bruce to Robin.
BrucenounUS /bruːs/
Australian physician and bacteriologist who described the bacterium that causes undulant fever or brucellosis (1855-1931)
From this reading He walked briskly into the sitting-room and looked quickly from Bruce to Robin.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
a game played with playing cards
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
detective'snounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
possessive form of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, he appeared to be a little anxious.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He walked briskly into the sitting-room and looked quickly from Bruce to Robin.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In fact, he appeared to be a little anxious.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
LAYSnounUS /leɪz/
plural of “lay” — a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In fact, he appeared to be a little anxious.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He walked briskly into the sitting-room and looked quickly from Bruce to Robin.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
MANDERTON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
a form of address for a man
From this reading MR.
a brief written record
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
patronizingadjectiveUS /ˈpeɪtrənaɪzɪŋ/
(used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who treat others with condescension
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
with speed
From this reading He walked briskly into the sitting-room and looked quickly from Bruce to Robin.
on the contrary
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
retainverbUS /rɪˈteɪn/
hold back within
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
RobinnounUS /ˈrɑːbən/
small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He walked briskly into the sitting-room and looked quickly from Bruce to Robin.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
subtleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌtəl/
difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
swaggerverbUS /ˈswæɡər/
to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
undergoneverbUS /ˌʌndərˈɡɔːn/
inflected form of “undergo” — pass through
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading He walked briskly into the sitting-room and looked quickly from Bruce to Robin.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading MANDERTON LAYS HIS CARDS ON THE TABLE The detective’s manner had undergone some subtle change which Robin, watching him closely as he came into the room, was quick to note.
wontnounUS /woʊnt/
an established custom
From this reading Mr. Manderton made an effort to retain his old air of rather patronizing swagger; but he seemed less sure of himself than was his wont.
