used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading He had the air of being perfectly at home in the room, with no idea that he could possibly be unwelcome.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had the air of being perfectly at home in the room, with no idea that he could possibly be unwelcome.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had the air of being perfectly at home in the room, with no idea that he could possibly be unwelcome.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He had the air of being perfectly at home in the room, with no idea that he could possibly be unwelcome.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
Claude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
conferencenounUS /ˈkɑːnfərəns/
a prearranged meeting for consultation or exchange of information or discussion (especially one with a formal agenda)
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He had the air of being perfectly at home in the room, with no idea that he could possibly be unwelcome.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
Francis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
gratifiedadjectiveUS /ˈɡrætəfaɪd/
having received what was desired
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading The question was his only greeting.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had the air of being perfectly at home in the room, with no idea that he could possibly be unwelcome.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He had the air of being perfectly at home in the room, with no idea that he could possibly be unwelcome.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He had the air of being perfectly at home in the room, with no idea that he could possibly be unwelcome.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
not any; not one
From this reading He had the air of being perfectly at home in the room, with no idea that he could possibly be unwelcome.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
occultismnoun
the study of the supernatural
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
and nothing more
From this reading The question was his only greeting.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading He had the air of being perfectly at home in the room, with no idea that he could possibly be unwelcome.
by chance
From this reading He had the air of being perfectly at home in the room, with no idea that he could possibly be unwelcome.
a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The question was his only greeting.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He had the air of being perfectly at home in the room, with no idea that he could possibly be unwelcome.
RutherfordnounUS /ˈrʌθərfərd/
a unit strength of a radioactive source equal to one million disintegrations per second
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
sanctumnounUS /ˈsæŋktəm/
a place of inviolable privacy
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
spaciousadjectiveUS /ˈspeɪʃəs/
very large in expanse or scope
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
Symeon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had the air of being perfectly at home in the room, with no idea that he could possibly be unwelcome.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
unwelcomeadjectiveUS /ənˈwelkəm/
not welcome; not giving pleasure or received with pleasure
From this reading He had the air of being perfectly at home in the room, with no idea that he could possibly be unwelcome.
Vera's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The question was his only greeting.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He slipped into the low and spacious chair by the hearth, and seemed to lose himself in it, while he waited for a reply.
whimnounUS /wɪm/
a sudden desire
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading Claude Rutherford asked, as he put down his hat in Vera's sanctum, the day after her conference with the high priest of occultism.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well, now your whim has been gratified, I should like to know what you think of Francis Symeon?"
