used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When a step in the outside passage warned him that his chief might possibly be coming in, he settled down in an attitude of work.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He hung up the receiver and leaned back in his chair, well satisfied with himself.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading When a step in the outside passage warned him that his chief might possibly be coming in, he settled down in an attitude of work.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He hung up the receiver and leaned back in his chair, well satisfied with himself.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When a step in the outside passage warned him that his chief might possibly be coming in, he settled down in an attitude of work.
for the reason that
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading He hung up the receiver and leaned back in his chair, well satisfied with himself.
a person who is in charge
From this reading When a step in the outside passage warned him that his chief might possibly be coming in, he settled down in an attitude of work.
chief'snounUS /tʃiːfs/
possessive form of “chief” — a person who is in charge
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
cigarsnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːrz/
plural of “cigar” — a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading When a step in the outside passage warned him that his chief might possibly be coming in, he settled down in an attitude of work.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
CustomsnounUS /ˈkʌstəmz/
money collected under a tariff
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
DanielnounUS /ˈdænjəl/
(Old Testament) a youth who was taken into the court of Nebuchadnezzar and given divine protection when thrown into a den of lions (6th century BC)
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
Deputy-Surveyor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
DuncannounUS /ˈdʌŋkən/
United States dancer and pioneer of modern dance (1878-1927)
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
evenedverbUS /ˈiːvənd/
past form of “even” — make level or straight
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
explanationsnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “explanation” — a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
set up or found
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
hatchet-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He hung up the receiver and leaned back in his chair, well satisfied with himself.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When a step in the outside passage warned him that his chief might possibly be coming in, he settled down in an attitude of work.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He hung up the receiver and leaned back in his chair, well satisfied with himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He hung up the receiver and leaned back in his chair, well satisfied with himself.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading He hung up the receiver and leaned back in his chair, well satisfied with himself.
impressverbUS /ˌɪmˈpres/
have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He hung up the receiver and leaned back in his chair, well satisfied with himself.
InspectornounUS /ˌɪnˈspektər/
a high ranking police officer
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
an occurrence of something
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading He hung up the receiver and leaned back in his chair, well satisfied with himself.
lordlyadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːrdliː/
of or befitting a lord
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading When a step in the outside passage warned him that his chief might possibly be coming in, he settled down in an attitude of work.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When a step in the outside passage warned him that his chief might possibly be coming in, he settled down in an attitude of work.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading When a step in the outside passage warned him that his chief might possibly be coming in, he settled down in an attitude of work.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading When a step in the outside passage warned him that his chief might possibly be coming in, he settled down in an attitude of work.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
by chance
From this reading When a step in the outside passage warned him that his chief might possibly be coming in, he settled down in an attitude of work.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
receivernounUS /rəˈsiːvər/
set that receives radio or tv signals
From this reading He hung up the receiver and leaned back in his chair, well satisfied with himself.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading He hung up the receiver and leaned back in his chair, well satisfied with himself.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading When a step in the outside passage warned him that his chief might possibly be coming in, he settled down in an attitude of work.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
refrain from harming
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading When a step in the outside passage warned him that his chief might possibly be coming in, he settled down in an attitude of work.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
superioritynounUS /ˌsuːpɪriˈɔːrɪti/
the quality of being superior
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
TaylornounUS /ˈteɪlər/
United States composer and music critic (1885-1966)
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When a step in the outside passage warned him that his chief might possibly be coming in, he settled down in an attitude of work.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He hung up the receiver and leaned back in his chair, well satisfied with himself.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He hung up the receiver and leaned back in his chair, well satisfied with himself.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
past form of “warn” — notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading When a step in the outside passage warned him that his chief might possibly be coming in, he settled down in an attitude of work.
warningsnounUS /ˈwɔːrnɪŋz/
plural of “warning” — a message informing of danger
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
(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 He hung up the receiver and leaned back in his chair, well satisfied with himself.
at the time that
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
which person or people
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading He did not, for instance, lean back in his chair and smoke cigars with a lordly air when Deputy-Surveyor Daniel Taylor was sitting in his big desk in the window opposite.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He hung up the receiver and leaned back in his chair, well satisfied with himself.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He was a spare, hatchet-faced man, who held down his present position because he was used to those storm warnings he could see on his chief’s face and knew enough to work in the dark and never ask for explanations.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading At such times Duncan worked with silent fury and felt he had evened up matters when he found a Customs Inspector whom he could impress with his own superiority.
