used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hotel life, with its ordinary distractions of seeing and being seen, and newsmongering and time-killing, was rather a bore to Reginald.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After dinner Reginald seated himself in the office of his hotel.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
any thing at all
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Hotel life, with its ordinary distractions of seeing and being seen, and newsmongering and time-killing, was rather a bore to Reginald.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
bluesnounUS /bluːz/
a type of folksong that originated among Black Americans at the beginning of the 20th century; has a melancholy sound from repeated use of blue notes
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
cause to be bored
From this reading Hotel life, with its ordinary distractions of seeing and being seen, and newsmongering and time-killing, was rather a bore to Reginald.
the act of breaking something
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading After dinner Reginald seated himself in the office of his hotel.
distractionsnounUS /dɪˈstrækʃənz/
plural of “distraction” — mental turmoil
From this reading Hotel life, with its ordinary distractions of seeing and being seen, and newsmongering and time-killing, was rather a bore to Reginald.
divertisement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
at any time
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
hilaritynounUS /hɪˈlerəti/
great merriment
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading After dinner Reginald seated himself in the office of his hotel.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After dinner Reginald seated himself in the office of his hotel.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading After dinner Reginald seated himself in the office of his hotel.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After dinner Reginald seated himself in the office of his hotel.
indefinableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈfaɪnəbəl/
not capable of being precisely or readily described; not easily put into words
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Hotel life, with its ordinary distractions of seeing and being seen, and newsmongering and time-killing, was rather a bore to Reginald.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Hotel life, with its ordinary distractions of seeing and being seen, and newsmongering and time-killing, was rather a bore to Reginald.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
longedverbUS /lɔːŋd/
past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
the force of workers available
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
newsmongering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hotel life, with its ordinary distractions of seeing and being seen, and newsmongering and time-killing, was rather a bore to Reginald.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After dinner Reginald seated himself in the office of his hotel.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading After dinner Reginald seated himself in the office of his hotel.
many times at short intervals
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Hotel life, with its ordinary distractions of seeing and being seen, and newsmongering and time-killing, was rather a bore to Reginald.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
on the contrary
From this reading Hotel life, with its ordinary distractions of seeing and being seen, and newsmongering and time-killing, was rather a bore to Reginald.
Reginald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner Reginald seated himself in the office of his hotel.
Identical; not different.
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading After dinner Reginald seated himself in the office of his hotel.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Hotel life, with its ordinary distractions of seeing and being seen, and newsmongering and time-killing, was rather a bore to Reginald.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Hotel life, with its ordinary distractions of seeing and being seen, and newsmongering and time-killing, was rather a bore to Reginald.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
spellsnounUS /spelz/
plural of “spell” — a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After dinner Reginald seated himself in the office of his hotel.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
time-killing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hotel life, with its ordinary distractions of seeing and being seen, and newsmongering and time-killing, was rather a bore to Reginald.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hotel life, with its ordinary distractions of seeing and being seen, and newsmongering and time-killing, was rather a bore to Reginald.
except if; if not
From this reading But he had had little idea of anything else, unless it were a big house on something of the same plan of social divertisement and high hilarity.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hotel life, with its ordinary distractions of seeing and being seen, and newsmongering and time-killing, was rather a bore to Reginald.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had had spells of the blues, of course, in which he longed for something indefinable; and now that his nerves and health were breaking down pretty fast, he had these blues more often than ever.
which person or people
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Hotel life, with its ordinary distractions of seeing and being seen, and newsmongering and time-killing, was rather a bore to Reginald.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading There were the usual number of men about the place, talking and smoking, and watching the women who passed through the office now and then.
