used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
the state of being absent
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
(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 My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
ARTauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
Aubrey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
autographnounUS /ˈɔːtəɡræf/
something written by one's own hand
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
consumeverbUS /kənˈsuːm/
eat up completely, as with great appetite
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
recognizable; marked
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
put on clothes
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
being one more than ten
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
a social unit living together
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
flocknounUS /flɑːk/
a church congregation guided by a pastor
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
hostessnounUS /ˈhoʊstəs/
a woman host
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
house-party
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
a social unit living together
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
be the source of pain
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
inconsequentadjective
lacking worth or importance
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
immediately past
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
not any; not one
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
obtainingverbUS /əbˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
on one occasion
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
orderingnounUS /ˈɔːrdərɪŋ/
logical or comprehensible arrangement of separate elements
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
PEOPLE'SnounUS /ˈpiːpəlz/
possessive form of “people” — (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
participate in games or sport
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
playsnounUS /pleɪz/
plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
playwrightnounUS /ˈpleɪraɪt/
someone who writes plays
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
pottering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
rehearsalnounUS /rɪˈhɜːrsəl/
a practice session in preparation for a public performance (as of a play or speech or concert)
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
righting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
sketchnounUS /sketʃ/
preliminary drawing for later elaboration
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
create by training and teaching
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was to be a very short sketch, not to consume over ten minutes in the reading, and no one was to get angry, and no one was to get his feelings hurt.
WASTINGnounUS /ˈweɪstɪŋ/
any general reduction in vitality and strength of body and mind resulting from a debilitating chronic disease
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
which person or people
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His absence left me at once to play hostess and to receive the queer, curious, and inconsequent persons who flock to the door of the successful playwright, with every wish from obtaining his autograph to an offer to stage his plays.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
produce a literary work
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading ON THE GENTLE ART OF WASTING OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME On the last day of the house-party we decided to hold a family gathering in the evening, to which each guest must bring a written sketch of some member of the household.
wrongsnounUS /rɔːŋz/
plural of “wrong” — that which is contrary to the principles of justice or law
From this reading My time was all taken up until eleven o'clock, in ordering and setting the servants at work, righting their wrongs, and pottering around among my large family.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading Aubrey had to go into New York to attend a dress rehearsal of his new play, but he promised to write something on the train, and have it ready.
