used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
absentadjectiveUS /ˈæbsənt/
not being in a specified place
From this reading The clerks were mystified, as Mr. Tamworth had never been known to absent himself from his business.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To me, of course, it was clear as a pikestaff and grimly I declined to discuss the matter with the bookkeeper.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Arthur Tamworth did not appear at the office.
elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading Arthur Tamworth did not appear at the office.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The clerks were mystified, as Mr. Tamworth had never been known to absent himself from his business.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Arthur Tamworth did not appear at the office.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The clerks were mystified, as Mr. Tamworth had never been known to absent himself from his business.
bookkeepernounUS /ˈbʊkkiːpər/
someone who records the transactions of a business
From this reading To me, of course, it was clear as a pikestaff and grimly I declined to discuss the matter with the bookkeeper.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading The clerks were mystified, as Mr. Tamworth had never been known to absent himself from his business.
rid of obstructions
From this reading To me, of course, it was clear as a pikestaff and grimly I declined to discuss the matter with the bookkeeper.
clerksnounUS /klɜːrks/
plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading The clerks were mystified, as Mr. Tamworth had never been known to absent himself from his business.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading To me, of course, it was clear as a pikestaff and grimly I declined to discuss the matter with the bookkeeper.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
declinedverbUS /dɪˈklaɪnd/
past form of “decline” — grow worse
From this reading To me, of course, it was clear as a pikestaff and grimly I declined to discuss the matter with the bookkeeper.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Arthur Tamworth did not appear at the office.
discussverbUS /dɪˈskʌs/
to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading To me, of course, it was clear as a pikestaff and grimly I declined to discuss the matter with the bookkeeper.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
fulfilledadjectiveUS /fʊlˈfɪld/
completed to perfection
From this reading My prediction was fulfilled.
grimlyadverbUS /ˈɡrɪmli/
in a grim implacable manner
From this reading To me, of course, it was clear as a pikestaff and grimly I declined to discuss the matter with the bookkeeper.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The clerks were mystified, as Mr. Tamworth had never been known to absent himself from his business.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The clerks were mystified, as Mr. Tamworth had never been known to absent himself from his business.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading To me, of course, it was clear as a pikestaff and grimly I declined to discuss the matter with the bookkeeper.
indispositionnoun
a slight illness
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To me, of course, it was clear as a pikestaff and grimly I declined to discuss the matter with the bookkeeper.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading The clerks were mystified, as Mr. Tamworth had never been known to absent himself from his business.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading To me, of course, it was clear as a pikestaff and grimly I declined to discuss the matter with the bookkeeper.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To me, of course, it was clear as a pikestaff and grimly I declined to discuss the matter with the bookkeeper.
a form of address for a man
From this reading The clerks were mystified, as Mr. Tamworth had never been known to absent himself from his business.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My prediction was fulfilled.
mystifiedadjectiveUS /ˈmɪstəfaɪd/
totally perplexed and mixed up
From this reading The clerks were mystified, as Mr. Tamworth had never been known to absent himself from his business.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The clerks were mystified, as Mr. Tamworth had never been known to absent himself from his business.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Arthur Tamworth did not appear at the office.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To me, of course, it was clear as a pikestaff and grimly I declined to discuss the matter with the bookkeeper.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Arthur Tamworth did not appear at the office.
owingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊɪŋ/
owed as a debt
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
pikestaffnoun
the staff of a pike
From this reading To me, of course, it was clear as a pikestaff and grimly I declined to discuss the matter with the bookkeeper.
predictionnounUS /priˈdɪkʃən/
the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)
From this reading My prediction was fulfilled.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
Tamworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Arthur Tamworth did not appear at the office.
telephonedverbUS /ˈteləfoʊnd/
past form of “telephone” — get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Arthur Tamworth did not appear at the office.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My prediction was fulfilled.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The clerks were mystified, as Mr. Tamworth had never been known to absent himself from his business.
in the company of; together with
From this reading To me, of course, it was clear as a pikestaff and grimly I declined to discuss the matter with the bookkeeper.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Instead, he telephoned from his house, that, owing to a slight indisposition, he would remain at home for the day.
