AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “I'm not making it well at all, sir.”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “How are you making it, Frank?” the president inquired, with solicitude.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “I'm not making it well at all, sir.”
banknounUS /bæŋk/
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
bookkeepernounUS /ˈbʊkkiːpər/
someone who records the transactions of a business
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
BrittnounUS /brɪt/
the young of a herring or sprat or similar fish
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
cagedverbUS /keɪdʒd/
past form of “cage” — confine in a cage
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
callersnounUS /ˈkɔːlərz/
plural of “caller” — a social or business visitor
From this reading Vaniman peered through the lattice into the gloom where the callers stood and shook his head.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
captivesnounUS /ˈkæptɪvz/
plural of “captive” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
cashiernounUS /kæˈʃɪr/
an employee of a bank who receives and pays out money
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
demeanornounUS /dɪˈmiːnər/
(behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
evidentlyadverbUS /ˈevədəntli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
FrankadjectiveUS /fræŋk/
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading “How are you making it, Frank?” the president inquired, with solicitude.
gloomnounUS /ɡluːm/
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading Vaniman peered through the lattice into the gloom where the callers stood and shook his head.
grillenounUS /ɡrɪl/
small opening (like a window in a door) through which business can be transacted
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
hatsnounUS /hæts/
plural of “hat” — headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Vaniman peered through the lattice into the gloom where the callers stood and shook his head.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Vaniman peered through the lattice into the gloom where the callers stood and shook his head.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How are you making it, Frank?” the president inquired, with solicitude.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I'm not making it well at all, sir.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
inquiredverbUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪərd/
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading “How are you making it, Frank?” the president inquired, with solicitude.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “How are you making it, Frank?” the president inquired, with solicitude.
latticenounUS /ˈlætəs/
an arrangement of points or particles or objects in a regular periodic pattern in 2 or 3 dimensions
From this reading Vaniman peered through the lattice into the gloom where the callers stood and shook his head.
makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading “How are you making it, Frank?” the president inquired, with solicitude.
MEDDLES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
MISFORTUNEnounUS /mɪˈsfɔːrtʃən/
unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I'm not making it well at all, sir.”
observernounUS /əbˈzɜːrvər/
a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
overcoatsnounUS /ˈoʊvərkoʊts/
plural of “overcoat” — a heavy coat worn over clothes in winter
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Vaniman peered through the lattice into the gloom where the callers stood and shook his head.
presidentnounUS /ˈprezədent/
an executive officer of a firm or corporation
From this reading “How are you making it, Frank?” the president inquired, with solicitude.
shooknounUS /ʃʊk/
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading Vaniman peered through the lattice into the gloom where the callers stood and shook his head.
ShortlyadverbUS /ˈʃɔːrtli/
for a short time
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
sirnounUS /sɜːr/
term of address for a man
From this reading “I'm not making it well at all, sir.”
solicitudenounUS /səˈlɪsɪtuːd/
a feeling of excessive concern
From this reading “How are you making it, Frank?” the president inquired, with solicitude.
StarrnounUS /stɑːr/
rock star and drummer for the Beatles (born in 1940)
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Vaniman peered through the lattice into the gloom where the callers stood and shook his head.
suggestionnounUS /səˈdʒestʃən/
an idea that is suggested
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
suppernounUS /ˈsʌpər/
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
sympatheticadjectiveUS /ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk/
of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
tavernnounUS /ˈtævərn/
a building with a bar that is licensed to sell alcoholic drinks
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Vaniman peered through the lattice into the gloom where the callers stood and shook his head.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
Vaniman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vaniman peered through the lattice into the gloom where the callers stood and shook his head.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
welladverbUS /wel/
(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 “I'm not making it well at all, sir.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Vaniman peered through the lattice into the gloom where the callers stood and shook his head.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “How are you making it, Frank?” the president inquired, with solicitude.
woreverbUS /wɔːr/
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading MISFORTUNE MEDDLES Shortly before the supper hour, Britt and Starr came into the bank; they wore their overcoats and hats, and were on their way to the tavern, evidently.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A sympathetic observer would have found a suggestion of captives, caged and hopeless, in the demeanor of the cashier and the bookkeeper behind the grille.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “How are you making it, Frank?” the president inquired, with solicitude.
