used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
the state of being absent
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
acquiescencenounUS /ˌækwiˈesəns/
acceptance without protest
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
in the past
From this reading “I left the village a couple of hours ago; rather loitering, as I came along, to enjoy the river scenery.”
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading “I left the village a couple of hours ago; rather loitering, as I came along, to enjoy the river scenery.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was Miss Dinah who stood at the jetty, as though awaiting him.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
awaitingverbUS /əˈweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading It was Miss Dinah who stood at the jetty, as though awaiting him.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
bunglingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌŋɡəlɪŋ/
showing lack of skill or aptitude
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “I left the village a couple of hours ago; rather loitering, as I came along, to enjoy the river scenery.”
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading “I left the village a couple of hours ago; rather loitering, as I came along, to enjoy the river scenery.”
deigningverbUS /ˈdeɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “deign” — do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
Dinah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Miss Dinah who stood at the jetty, as though awaiting him.
derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading “I left the village a couple of hours ago; rather loitering, as I came along, to enjoy the river scenery.”
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was Miss Dinah who stood at the jetty, as though awaiting him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading “I left the village a couple of hours ago; rather loitering, as I came along, to enjoy the river scenery.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I left the village a couple of hours ago; rather loitering, as I came along, to enjoy the river scenery.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Miss Dinah who stood at the jetty, as though awaiting him.
jettynounUS /ˈdʒeti/
a protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away
From this reading It was Miss Dinah who stood at the jetty, as though awaiting him.
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
immediately past
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
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 “I left the village a couple of hours ago; rather loitering, as I came along, to enjoy the river scenery.”
loiteringverbUS /ˈlɔɪtərɪŋ/
-ing form of “loiter” — be about
From this reading “I left the village a couple of hours ago; rather loitering, as I came along, to enjoy the river scenery.”
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading It was Miss Dinah who stood at the jetty, as though awaiting him.
not any; not one
From this reading “No,” said he.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
a human being
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
on the contrary
From this reading “I left the village a couple of hours ago; rather loitering, as I came along, to enjoy the river scenery.”
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading “I left the village a couple of hours ago; rather loitering, as I came along, to enjoy the river scenery.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “No,” said he.
cut with a saw
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
only a very short time before
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
scenerynounUS /ˈsiːnəri/
the painted structures of a stage set that are intended to suggest a particular locale
From this reading “I left the village a couple of hours ago; rather loitering, as I came along, to enjoy the river scenery.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
Stapylton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading It was Miss Dinah who stood at the jetty, as though awaiting him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was Miss Dinah who stood at the jetty, as though awaiting him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Scarcely deigning to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading “I left the village a couple of hours ago; rather loitering, as I came along, to enjoy the river scenery.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
at the time that
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
which person or people
From this reading It was Miss Dinah who stood at the jetty, as though awaiting him.
plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire
From this reading When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes.
