used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
matters of personal concern
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
(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 Mr. Penton waited through all the dreary day.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Mr. Penton waited through all the dreary day.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading Mr. Penton waited through all the dreary day.
earliestadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrliəst/
(comparative and superlative of “early”) more early than; most early
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
ellipses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
explainingverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading THE MASTER OF PENTON.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Penton waited through all the dreary day.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MASTER OF PENTON.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
PENTON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MASTER OF PENTON.
peremptorilyadverb
in an imperative and commanding manner
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
phrasesnounUS /ˈfreɪzəz/
plural of “phrase” — an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
express in words
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MASTER OF PENTON.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Mr. Penton waited through all the dreary day.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Mr. Penton waited through all the dreary day.
at the time that
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
the words that are spoken
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “It would be bad taste, the worst of taste, to have you here at such a time,” he said, but without explaining why.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading He sent the young ones away peremptorily at the earliest opportunity, without throwing any light to them on the state of affairs.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Tell your mother I will come back when I can--but not before--” He spoke in ellipses, with phrases too full of meaning to be put into mere words.
