used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Pelham and Spencer both helped themselves almost mechanically.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Duncombe filled his own glass and passed around a decanter of port.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Duncombe filled his own glass and passed around a decanter of port.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Pelham and Spencer both helped themselves almost mechanically.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading A cloud of restraint had hung over the little party.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading Duncombe raised his glass and half emptied its contents.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
decanternoun
a bottle with a stopper; for serving wine or water
From this reading Duncombe filled his own glass and passed around a decanter of port.
dessertnounUS /dɪˈzɜːrt/
a dish served as the last course of a meal
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
dining-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
Duncombe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Duncombe filled his own glass and passed around a decanter of port.
emptiedverbUS /ˈemptid/
inflected form of “empty” — make void or empty of contents
From this reading Duncombe raised his glass and half emptied its contents.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
apart from; not including
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Duncombe filled his own glass and passed around a decanter of port.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading Duncombe filled his own glass and passed around a decanter of port.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Duncombe raised his glass and half emptied its contents.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Pelham and Spencer both helped themselves almost mechanically.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Duncombe filled his own glass and passed around a decanter of port.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading A cloud of restraint had hung over the little party.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Duncombe raised his glass and half emptied its contents.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A cloud of restraint had hung over the little party.
mechanicallyadverbUS /məˈkænɪkli/
in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism
From this reading Pelham and Spencer both helped themselves almost mechanically.
the force of workers available
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Duncombe filled his own glass and passed around a decanter of port.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A cloud of restraint had hung over the little party.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Duncombe filled his own glass and passed around a decanter of port.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading A cloud of restraint had hung over the little party.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Duncombe filled his own glass and passed around a decanter of port.
PelhamnounUS /ˈpeləm/
a bit with a bar mouthpiece that is designed to combine a curb and snaffle
From this reading Pelham and Spencer both helped themselves almost mechanically.
a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading Duncombe filled his own glass and passed around a decanter of port.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Duncombe raised his glass and half emptied its contents.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
restraintnounUS /rɪˈstreɪnt/
the act of controlling by restraining someone or something
From this reading A cloud of restraint had hung over the little party.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
SpencernounUS /ˈspensər/
English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)
From this reading Pelham and Spencer both helped themselves almost mechanically.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Pelham and Spencer both helped themselves almost mechanically.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
WOMAN'SnounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A WOMAN'S CRY The three men were sitting at a small round dining-table, from which everything except the dessert had been removed.
