used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mr. James Welsh occupied a small, respectable house in a row in Shepherd’s Bush.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The house was very new; the smell of plaster clung about it.
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
a line of approach
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
barknounUS /bɑːrk/
tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Mr. James Welsh occupied a small, respectable house in a row in Shepherd’s Bush.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading The house was very new; the smell of plaster clung about it.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
entitledadjectiveUS /enˈtaɪtəld/
qualified for by right according to law
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
the organ of sight
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
yet to be or coming
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Mr. James Welsh occupied a small, respectable house in a row in Shepherd’s Bush.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. James Welsh occupied a small, respectable house in a row in Shepherd’s Bush.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The house was very new; the smell of plaster clung about it.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading Mr. James Welsh occupied a small, respectable house in a row in Shepherd’s Bush.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. James Welsh occupied a small, respectable house in a row in Shepherd’s Bush.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The house was very new; the smell of plaster clung about it.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading NOTHING.
held or filled or in use
From this reading Mr. James Welsh occupied a small, respectable house in a row in Shepherd’s Bush.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The house was very new; the smell of plaster clung about it.
pen-knives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
pinchingverbUS /ˈpɪntʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “pinch” — squeeze tightly between the fingers
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
planenounUS /pleɪn/
an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
plannedadjectiveUS /plænd/
designed or carried out according to a plan
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
plantedadjectiveUS /ˈplæntɪd/
(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
plasterverbUS /ˈplæstər/
apply a heavy coat to
From this reading The house was very new; the smell of plaster clung about it.
the possibility of future success
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals
From this reading Mr. James Welsh occupied a small, respectable house in a row in Shepherd’s Bush.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading Mr. James Welsh occupied a small, respectable house in a row in Shepherd’s Bush.
Shepherd'snounUS /ˈʃepərdz/
possessive form of “shepherd” — a clergyman who watches over a group of people
From this reading Mr. James Welsh occupied a small, respectable house in a row in Shepherd’s Bush.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Mr. James Welsh occupied a small, respectable house in a row in Shepherd’s Bush.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading The house was very new; the smell of plaster clung about it.
confined on all sides
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The house was very new; the smell of plaster clung about it.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
umbrageousadjective
filled with shade
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
precisely as stated
From this reading The house was very new; the smell of plaster clung about it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The house was very new; the smell of plaster clung about it.
WelshnounUS /weltʃ/
a native or resident of Wales
From this reading Mr. James Welsh occupied a small, respectable house in a row in Shepherd’s Bush.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
which person or people
From this reading Far in the dim future was a prospect of the road becoming an umbrageous avenue; accordingly, with an eye to the future, those who had planned and planted the row entitled it The Avenue.
wire-netting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Before the row were young plane trees, surrounded with wire-netting to protect their tender bark from the pen-knives and pinching fingers of boys.
