used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Lee, Briscoe, Miss Jane, Dempster and Muriel were all in the dining-room, and Dempster was making a speech.
(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 Lee, Briscoe, Miss Jane, Dempster and Muriel were all in the dining-room, and Dempster was making a speech.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lee, Briscoe, Miss Jane, Dempster and Muriel were all in the dining-room, and Dempster was making a speech.
any thing at all
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The introductory sentence had been prepared.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
Briscoe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lee, Briscoe, Miss Jane, Dempster and Muriel were all in the dining-room, and Dempster was making a speech.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading CONCLUSION It was nearly eleven o'clock.
Dempster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lee, Briscoe, Miss Jane, Dempster and Muriel were all in the dining-room, and Dempster was making a speech.
desiccatedadjectiveUS /ˈdesəkeɪtəd/
thoroughly dried out
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
detainverbUS /dɪˈteɪn/
deprive of freedom; take into confinement
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading Lee, Briscoe, Miss Jane, Dempster and Muriel were all in the dining-room, and Dempster was making a speech.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
being one more than ten
From this reading CONCLUSION It was nearly eleven o'clock.
formaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/
being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The introductory sentence had been prepared.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lee, Briscoe, Miss Jane, Dempster and Muriel were all in the dining-room, and Dempster was making a speech.
informaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrməl/
not formal
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
introductoryadjectiveUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌktəri/
serving to open or begin
From this reading The introductory sentence had been prepared.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading CONCLUSION It was nearly eleven o'clock.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lee, Briscoe, Miss Jane, Dempster and Muriel were all in the dining-room, and Dempster was making a speech.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)
From this reading Lee, Briscoe, Miss Jane, Dempster and Muriel were all in the dining-room, and Dempster was making a speech.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Lee, Briscoe, Miss Jane, Dempster and Muriel were all in the dining-room, and Dempster was making a speech.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Lee, Briscoe, Miss Jane, Dempster and Muriel were all in the dining-room, and Dempster was making a speech.
Muriel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lee, Briscoe, Miss Jane, Dempster and Muriel were all in the dining-room, and Dempster was making a speech.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading CONCLUSION It was nearly eleven o'clock.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading CONCLUSION It was nearly eleven o'clock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
by chance
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading The introductory sentence had been prepared.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
regrettedverbUS /rɪˈɡretɪd/
inflected form of “regret” — feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading The introductory sentence had been prepared.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading Lee, Briscoe, Miss Jane, Dempster and Muriel were all in the dining-room, and Dempster was making a speech.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Lee, Briscoe, Miss Jane, Dempster and Muriel were all in the dining-room, and Dempster was making a speech.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
turgidadjectiveUS /ˈtɜːrdʒɪd/
ostentatiously lofty in style
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CONCLUSION It was nearly eleven o'clock.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Lee, Briscoe, Miss Jane, Dempster and Muriel were all in the dining-room, and Dempster was making a speech.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It will possibly never be known whether Miss Jane put him up to it or not; if she did she regretted it before he was half done.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
in the company of; together with
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, with turgid tongue and desiccated throat, 'you are surprised that I should wish at this late hour to detain you with anything in the shape of a formal speech, however informal it may be.'
