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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
according
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From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
adjoined
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From this reading The offices of the Governor and the Lieutenant-Governor adjoined.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
air
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From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The offices of the Governor and the Lieutenant-Governor adjoined.
ante-room
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From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
august
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From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
B
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From this reading M. R. B.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
bell
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From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
cards
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From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
censor
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From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
chief
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From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
connected
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From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
desk
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From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
EachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
electric
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From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
enter
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From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
eternally
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From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
excessively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
executive
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From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
formal
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From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
given
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From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
Governor
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From this reading The offices of the Governor and the Lieutenant-Governor adjoined.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
intervals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
keys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
lieutenant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
Lieutenant-Governor
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From this reading The offices of the Governor and the Lieutenant-Governor adjoined.
M
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From this reading M. R. B.
newspaper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The offices of the Governor and the Lieutenant-Governor adjoined.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
offices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The offices of the Governor and the Lieutenant-Governor adjoined.
official
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
page
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
permission
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
personage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
plain-featured
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From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
R
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From this reading M. R. B.
rarely
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From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
rattled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
roll-top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
scanned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
secretary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
signal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
smug-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
stenographer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
tap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The offices of the Governor and the Lieutenant-Governor adjoined.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
trio
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
twice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
typewriter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
visitors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A door connected the office of the chief executive with that of his lieutenant, but this was rarely opened by either, and then only after a formal tap and permission to enter had been given.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
whirred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading At intervals, an electric bell whirred once, twice, or three times; and, according to the signal, one of the trio disappeared into the presence of the august personage within.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
yawned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each had its ante-room, in which a private secretary wrote eternally at a roll-top desk, an excessively plain-featured stenographer rattled the keys of his typewriter, and a smug-faced page yawned over a newspaper, or scanned the cards of visitors with the air of an official censor.
