used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In response to an expressive motion of the slender pale hands he seated himself opposite the Count.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading His eyes slowly traveled around the stateroom and noted its appearance in some detail.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading His eyes slowly traveled around the stateroom and noted its appearance in some detail.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
bracketnounUS /ˈbrækɪt/
a category falling within certain defined limits
From this reading Two swinging bracket lamps lit up the wall to his right, leaving the lower part of the room in deep shadow.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
commandingadjectiveUS /kəˈmændɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Two swinging bracket lamps lit up the wall to his right, leaving the lower part of the room in deep shadow.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
detailnounUS /dɪˈteɪl/
an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
From this reading His eyes slowly traveled around the stateroom and noted its appearance in some detail.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/
construct, build, or erect
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
expressiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspresɪv/
characterized by expression
From this reading In response to an expressive motion of the slender pale hands he seated himself opposite the Count.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His eyes slowly traveled around the stateroom and noted its appearance in some detail.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
set up or found
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
gauntadjectiveUS /ɡɔːnt/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading In response to an expressive motion of the slender pale hands he seated himself opposite the Count.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In response to an expressive motion of the slender pale hands he seated himself opposite the Count.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
indefinableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈfaɪnəbəl/
not capable of being precisely or readily described; not easily put into words
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading His eyes slowly traveled around the stateroom and noted its appearance in some detail.
lampsnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading Two swinging bracket lamps lit up the wall to his right, leaving the lower part of the room in deep shadow.
the act of departing
From this reading Two swinging bracket lamps lit up the wall to his right, leaving the lower part of the room in deep shadow.
provided with artificial light
From this reading Two swinging bracket lamps lit up the wall to his right, leaving the lower part of the room in deep shadow.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading Two swinging bracket lamps lit up the wall to his right, leaving the lower part of the room in deep shadow.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
MortonnounUS /ˈmɔːrtən/
United States jazz musician who moved from ragtime to New Orleans jazz (1885-1941)
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading In response to an expressive motion of the slender pale hands he seated himself opposite the Count.
notedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading His eyes slowly traveled around the stateroom and noted its appearance in some detail.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading In response to an expressive motion of the slender pale hands he seated himself opposite the Count.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading In response to an expressive motion of the slender pale hands he seated himself opposite the Count.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Two swinging bracket lamps lit up the wall to his right, leaving the lower part of the room in deep shadow.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
receiptnounUS /rɪˈsiːt/
the act of receiving
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/
a result
From this reading In response to an expressive motion of the slender pale hands he seated himself opposite the Count.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Two swinging bracket lamps lit up the wall to his right, leaving the lower part of the room in deep shadow.
Rondell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
Identical; not different.
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading In response to an expressive motion of the slender pale hands he seated himself opposite the Count.
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Two swinging bracket lamps lit up the wall to his right, leaving the lower part of the room in deep shadow.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading In response to an expressive motion of the slender pale hands he seated himself opposite the Count.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading His eyes slowly traveled around the stateroom and noted its appearance in some detail.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading His eyes slowly traveled around the stateroom and noted its appearance in some detail.
having a supporting base
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
stateroomnoun
a guest cabin
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading Two swinging bracket lamps lit up the wall to his right, leaving the lower part of the room in deep shadow.
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
traveledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
traveled over or through; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading His eyes slowly traveled around the stateroom and noted its appearance in some detail.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two swinging bracket lamps lit up the wall to his right, leaving the lower part of the room in deep shadow.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Two swinging bracket lamps lit up the wall to his right, leaving the lower part of the room in deep shadow.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Two swinging bracket lamps lit up the wall to his right, leaving the lower part of the room in deep shadow.
at the time that
From this reading When Morton entered Count Rondell’s stateroom he found him standing behind a small flat desk in the middle of the room, his commanding, almost gaunt figure erect and tense.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As he looked at the man, he experienced the same peculiar sensation he had felt upon receipt of the message asking him to call--a sense of indefinable anxiety mingled with curiosity.
