used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading TWO INDUCEMENTS One of Mr. Mackworth’s peculiarities was a preference for hotels.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Just now his excuse was Captain Ludington and Lord Pelton.
apartmentsnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənts/
plural of “apartment” — a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading By the time the boys had reached the hotel the English guests had gone to their apartments, but Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham were yet in the office surrounded by luggage.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading When he could avoid it he never stopped in private homes.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading By the time the boys had reached the hotel the English guests had gone to their apartments, but Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham were yet in the office surrounded by luggage.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By the time the boys had reached the hotel the English guests had gone to their apartments, but Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham were yet in the office surrounded by luggage.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Just now his excuse was Captain Ludington and Lord Pelton.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When he could avoid it he never stopped in private homes.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading By the time the boys had reached the hotel the English guests had gone to their apartments, but Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham were yet in the office surrounded by luggage.
accept an excuse for
From this reading Just now his excuse was Captain Ludington and Lord Pelton.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading TWO INDUCEMENTS One of Mr. Mackworth’s peculiarities was a preference for hotels.
Frank'snounUS /fræŋks/
possessive form of “frank” — a member of the ancient Germanic peoples who spread from the Rhine into the Roman Empire in the 4th century
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
destroyed or killed
From this reading By the time the boys had reached the hotel the English guests had gone to their apartments, but Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham were yet in the office surrounded by luggage.
GrahamnounUS /ˈɡreɪəm/
United States evangelical preacher famous as a mass evangelist (born in 1918)
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading By the time the boys had reached the hotel the English guests had gone to their apartments, but Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham were yet in the office surrounded by luggage.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he could avoid it he never stopped in private homes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Just now his excuse was Captain Ludington and Lord Pelton.
homesnounUS /hoʊmz/
plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time
From this reading When he could avoid it he never stopped in private homes.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading By the time the boys had reached the hotel the English guests had gone to their apartments, but Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham were yet in the office surrounded by luggage.
hotelsnounUS /hoʊˈtelz/
plural of “hotel” — a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading TWO INDUCEMENTS One of Mr. Mackworth’s peculiarities was a preference for hotels.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When he could avoid it he never stopped in private homes.
INDUCEMENTSnounUS /ˌɪnˈduːsmənts/
plural of “inducement” — a positive motivational influence
From this reading TWO INDUCEMENTS One of Mr. Mackworth’s peculiarities was a preference for hotels.
insistentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstənt/
repetitive and persistent
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When he could avoid it he never stopped in private homes.
and nothing more
From this reading Just now his excuse was Captain Ludington and Lord Pelton.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading Just now his excuse was Captain Ludington and Lord Pelton.
Ludington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just now his excuse was Captain Ludington and Lord Pelton.
luggagenounUS /ˈlʌɡədʒ/
cases used to carry belongings when traveling
From this reading By the time the boys had reached the hotel the English guests had gone to their apartments, but Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham were yet in the office surrounded by luggage.
Mackworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By the time the boys had reached the hotel the English guests had gone to their apartments, but Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham were yet in the office surrounded by luggage.
Mackworth's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TWO INDUCEMENTS One of Mr. Mackworth’s peculiarities was a preference for hotels.
a form of address for a man
From this reading TWO INDUCEMENTS One of Mr. Mackworth’s peculiarities was a preference for hotels.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading When he could avoid it he never stopped in private homes.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Just now his excuse was Captain Ludington and Lord Pelton.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TWO INDUCEMENTS One of Mr. Mackworth’s peculiarities was a preference for hotels.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading By the time the boys had reached the hotel the English guests had gone to their apartments, but Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham were yet in the office surrounded by luggage.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading TWO INDUCEMENTS One of Mr. Mackworth’s peculiarities was a preference for hotels.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
peculiaritiesnounUS /pɪˌkjuːliˈerətiz/
plural of “peculiarity” — an odd or unusual characteristic
From this reading TWO INDUCEMENTS One of Mr. Mackworth’s peculiarities was a preference for hotels.
Pelton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just now his excuse was Captain Ludington and Lord Pelton.
preferencenounUS /ˈprefərəns/
a strong liking
From this reading TWO INDUCEMENTS One of Mr. Mackworth’s peculiarities was a preference for hotels.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading When he could avoid it he never stopped in private homes.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading By the time the boys had reached the hotel the English guests had gone to their apartments, but Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham were yet in the office surrounded by luggage.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading When he could avoid it he never stopped in private homes.
confined on all sides
From this reading By the time the boys had reached the hotel the English guests had gone to their apartments, but Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham were yet in the office surrounded by luggage.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading By the time the boys had reached the hotel the English guests had gone to their apartments, but Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham were yet in the office surrounded by luggage.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading By the time the boys had reached the hotel the English guests had gone to their apartments, but Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham were yet in the office surrounded by luggage.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading TWO INDUCEMENTS One of Mr. Mackworth’s peculiarities was a preference for hotels.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading TWO INDUCEMENTS One of Mr. Mackworth’s peculiarities was a preference for hotels.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mr. and Mrs. Graham were insistent that the party should stop in their big and comfortable house, but Frank’s uncle had his way about it.
at the time that
From this reading When he could avoid it he never stopped in private homes.
but in spite of that
From this reading By the time the boys had reached the hotel the English guests had gone to their apartments, but Mr. Mackworth and Mr. Graham were yet in the office surrounded by luggage.
