Chapter I

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

-ing form of “adjoin” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

later than; following

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

plural of “american” — a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading His fingers were stained to the tip of his nails as though by chemicals or tobacco juice.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

wearing, or having the face adorned with, eyeglasses or an eyeglass

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

superlative of “busy” — actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading His fingers were stained to the tip of his nails as though by chemicals or tobacco juice.

plural of “canadian” — a native or inhabitant of Canada

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

plural of “chemical” — material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules

From this reading His fingers were stained to the tip of his nails as though by chemicals or tobacco juice.

lacking in variety and interest

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

overfilled or compacted or concentrated

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

plural of “customer” — someone who pays for goods or services

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

an affliction in which some part of the body is misshapen or malformed

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading His fingers were stained to the tip of his nails as though by chemicals or tobacco juice.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading His fingers were stained to the tip of his nails as though by chemicals or tobacco juice.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

not well dressed

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

plural of “journalist” — a writer for newspapers and magazines

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

the liquid part that can be extracted from plant or animal tissue by squeezing or cooking

From this reading His fingers were stained to the tip of his nails as though by chemicals or tobacco juice.

of a yellowish brown color

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

go away from a place

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

take the midday meal

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

the force of workers available

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

used to form the superlative

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

plural of “nail” — horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits

From this reading His fingers were stained to the tip of his nails as though by chemicals or tobacco juice.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

according to the clock

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

-ing form of “occupy” — keep busy with

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

outlying areas (as of a city or town)

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

on the contrary

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

marked or dyed or discolored with foreign matter

From this reading His fingers were stained to the tip of his nails as though by chemicals or tobacco juice.

having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

bend one's back forward from the waist on down

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading His fingers were stained to the tip of his nails as though by chemicals or tobacco juice.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

a large gathering of people

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

the extreme end of something; especially something pointed

From this reading His fingers were stained to the tip of his nails as though by chemicals or tobacco juice.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion

From this reading His fingers were stained to the tip of his nails as though by chemicals or tobacco juice.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was a few minutes after one o'clock--the busiest hour of the day at the most popular bar in London.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The usual little throng of Americans, journalists, men of business and loiterers, were occupying their accustomed chairs in one corner of the long, green-carpeted room.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

in the company of; together with

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.

unfulfilled or frustrated in realizing an ambition

From this reading Around the bar, would-be customers were crowded three or four deep--many of them stalwart Canadians in khaki, making the most of their three days' leave, and a thin sprinkling of men about town on their way to lunch in the grill-room adjoining.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading On the outskirts of the group was a somewhat incongruous figure, a rather under-sized, ill-dressed, bespectacled little man, neither young nor old, colourless, with a stoop which was almost a deformity.