used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
the state of being absent
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
BLUFFnounUS /blʌf/
a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
unvarying in nature
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading Temperamentally saturnine, years of service covering "police" had sapped his faith in human nature.
dismissalnounUS /dɪˈsmɪsəl/
a judgment disposing of the matter without a trial
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
DispatchverbUS /dɪˈspætʃ/
send away towards a designated goal
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
distrustnounUS /dɪˈstrʌst/
doubt about someone's honesty
From this reading He was the only member of the staff whose distrust of Good's motives remained fixed and unconcealed.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading Temperamentally saturnine, years of service covering "police" had sapped his faith in human nature.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading It was perhaps not wholly his fault.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading He was the only member of the staff whose distrust of Good's motives remained fixed and unconcealed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
Furniss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
Good'snounUS /ɡʊdz/
possessive form of “good” — benefit
From this reading He was the only member of the staff whose distrust of Good's motives remained fixed and unconcealed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Temperamentally saturnine, years of service covering "police" had sapped his faith in human nature.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Temperamentally saturnine, years of service covering "police" had sapped his faith in human nature.
impalpableadjective
incapable of being perceived by the senses especially the sense of touch
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
irritationnounUS /ˌɪrɪˈteɪʃən/
the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was perhaps not wholly his fault.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading He was the only member of the staff whose distrust of Good's motives remained fixed and unconcealed.
motivesnounUS /ˈmoʊtɪvz/
plural of “motive” — the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading He was the only member of the staff whose distrust of Good's motives remained fixed and unconcealed.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Temperamentally saturnine, years of service covering "police" had sapped his faith in human nature.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was perhaps not wholly his fault.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
oldestadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldəst/
superlative of “old” — (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
and nothing more
From this reading He was the only member of the staff whose distrust of Good's motives remained fixed and unconcealed.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
by chance
From this reading It was perhaps not wholly his fault.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading Temperamentally saturnine, years of service covering "police" had sapped his faith in human nature.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
reporternounUS /rɪˈpɔːrtər/
a person who investigates and reports or edits news stories
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
sappedverbUS /sæpt/
inflected form of “sap” — deplete
From this reading Temperamentally saturnine, years of service covering "police" had sapped his faith in human nature.
saturnineadjective
bitter or scornful
From this reading Temperamentally saturnine, years of service covering "police" had sapped his faith in human nature.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading He was the only member of the staff whose distrust of Good's motives remained fixed and unconcealed.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
tangibleadjectiveUS /ˈtændʒəbəl/
perceptible by the senses especially the sense of touch
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
TemperamentallyadverbUS /ˌtemprəˈmentəli/
by temperament
From this reading Temperamentally saturnine, years of service covering "police" had sapped his faith in human nature.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
unconcealedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnkənˈsiːld/
not concealed or hidden
From this reading He was the only member of the staff whose distrust of Good's motives remained fixed and unconcealed.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading But he was so distinctly capable, and there was such an utter absence of tangible reason for his dismissal that he remained in his place, a constant, though impalpable, source of irritation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading It was perhaps not wholly his fault.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
belonging to which person
From this reading He was the only member of the staff whose distrust of Good's motives remained fixed and unconcealed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A BLUFF CALLED Furniss, the oldest reporter on _The Dispatch_, in point of service, was the one man with whom Good would have liked to part company.
a late time of life
From this reading Temperamentally saturnine, years of service covering "police" had sapped his faith in human nature.
