used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had a large Bible open on the table before him.
(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 It had obtained all through the Methodist days, and now lasted under the new orthodox dispensation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Old Max looked up at his visitor over the great tortoise-shell spectacles on his nose.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading This was the custom of the house, and had been so for years.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had a large Bible open on the table before him.
the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading He had a large Bible open on the table before him.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading This was the custom of the house, and had been so for years.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It had obtained all through the Methodist days, and now lasted under the new orthodox dispensation.
dispensationnounUS /ˌdɪspənˈseɪʃən/
an exemption from some rule or obligation
From this reading It had obtained all through the Methodist days, and now lasted under the new orthodox dispensation.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
eveningsnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/
plural of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was the custom of the house, and had been so for years.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Old Max looked up at his visitor over the great tortoise-shell spectacles on his nose.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had a large Bible open on the table before him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had a large Bible open on the table before him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had a large Bible open on the table before him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Old Max looked up at his visitor over the great tortoise-shell spectacles on his nose.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading This was the custom of the house, and had been so for years.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had obtained all through the Methodist days, and now lasted under the new orthodox dispensation.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had a large Bible open on the table before him.
lastedverbUS /ˈlæstəd/
past form of “last” — persist for a specified period of time
From this reading It had obtained all through the Methodist days, and now lasted under the new orthodox dispensation.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Old Max looked up at his visitor over the great tortoise-shell spectacles on his nose.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
MaxnounUS /mæks/
street names for gamma hydroxybutyrate
From this reading Old Max looked up at his visitor over the great tortoise-shell spectacles on his nose.
MethodistadjectiveUS /ˈmeθədəst/
of or pertaining to or characteristic of the branch of Protestantism adhering to the views of Wesley
From this reading It had obtained all through the Methodist days, and now lasted under the new orthodox dispensation.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/
the second day of the week; the first working day
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
mundaneadjectiveUS /mənˈdeɪn/
found in the ordinary course of events
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It had obtained all through the Methodist days, and now lasted under the new orthodox dispensation.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading Old Max looked up at his visitor over the great tortoise-shell spectacles on his nose.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It had obtained all through the Methodist days, and now lasted under the new orthodox dispensation.
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading It had obtained all through the Methodist days, and now lasted under the new orthodox dispensation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Old Max looked up at his visitor over the great tortoise-shell spectacles on his nose.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Old Max looked up at his visitor over the great tortoise-shell spectacles on his nose.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He had a large Bible open on the table before him.
orthodoxadjectiveUS /ˈɔːrθədɑːks/
of or pertaining to or characteristic of Judaism
From this reading It had obtained all through the Methodist days, and now lasted under the new orthodox dispensation.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Old Max looked up at his visitor over the great tortoise-shell spectacles on his nose.
parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
restoredverbUS /rɪˈstɔːrd/
past form of “restore” — return to its original or usable and functioning condition
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This was the custom of the house, and had been so for years.
spectaclesnounUS /ˈspektəkəlz/
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading Old Max looked up at his visitor over the great tortoise-shell spectacles on his nose.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He had a large Bible open on the table before him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Old Max looked up at his visitor over the great tortoise-shell spectacles on his nose.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the custom of the house, and had been so for years.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It had obtained all through the Methodist days, and now lasted under the new orthodox dispensation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
tortoise-shell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Max looked up at his visitor over the great tortoise-shell spectacles on his nose.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading It had obtained all through the Methodist days, and now lasted under the new orthodox dispensation.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Old Max looked up at his visitor over the great tortoise-shell spectacles on his nose.
someone who visits
From this reading Old Max looked up at his visitor over the great tortoise-shell spectacles on his nose.
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The large Bible was placed there every evening, and on Sunday evenings any other mundane volume which might chance to be lying in the parlour was carefully removed out of sight, to be restored to the light of day on Monday morning.
a late time of life
From this reading This was the custom of the house, and had been so for years.
