used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading So far the going had been unusually good, and the wind-up would take but a few hours.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It mattered little, therefore, that the director began work an hour late.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So far the going had been unusually good, and the wind-up would take but a few hours.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Bobby’s eyes rested upon them, and, as he showed by a grin, he was pleased.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading On that very day the picture was to be finished.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading So far the going had been unusually good, and the wind-up would take but a few hours.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It mattered little, therefore, that the director began work an hour late.
Bobby'snounUS /ˈbɑːbiz/
possessive form of “bobby” — an informal term for a British policeman
From this reading Bobby’s eyes rested upon them, and, as he showed by a grin, he was pleased.
a youthful male person
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading So far the going had been unusually good, and the wind-up would take but a few hours.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Bobby’s eyes rested upon them, and, as he showed by a grin, he was pleased.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On that very day the picture was to be finished.
directornounUS /dərˈektər/
someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading It mattered little, therefore, that the director began work an hour late.
being one more than seven
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Bobby’s eyes rested upon them, and, as he showed by a grin, he was pleased.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading So far the going had been unusually good, and the wind-up would take but a few hours.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading So far the going had been unusually good, and the wind-up would take but a few hours.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading On that very day the picture was to be finished.
a young female
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
the act of departing
From this reading So far the going had been unusually good, and the wind-up would take but a few hours.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading So far the going had been unusually good, and the wind-up would take but a few hours.
grinnounUS /ɡrɪn/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading Bobby’s eyes rested upon them, and, as he showed by a grin, he was pleased.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So far the going had been unusually good, and the wind-up would take but a few hours.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Bobby’s eyes rested upon them, and, as he showed by a grin, he was pleased.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It mattered little, therefore, that the director began work an hour late.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading So far the going had been unusually good, and the wind-up would take but a few hours.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It mattered little, therefore, that the director began work an hour late.
immediately past
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading It mattered little, therefore, that the director began work an hour late.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It mattered little, therefore, that the director began work an hour late.
matteredverbUS /ˈmætərd/
past form of “matter” — have weight; have import, carry weight
From this reading It mattered little, therefore, that the director began work an hour late.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On that very day the picture was to be finished.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading On that very day the picture was to be finished.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading Bobby’s eyes rested upon them, and, as he showed by a grin, he was pleased.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
rehearsalnounUS /rɪˈhɜːrsəl/
a practice session in preparation for a public performance (as of a play or speech or concert)
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading Bobby’s eyes rested upon them, and, as he showed by a grin, he was pleased.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Bobby’s eyes rested upon them, and, as he showed by a grin, he was pleased.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So far the going had been unusually good, and the wind-up would take but a few hours.
striking-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
carry out
From this reading So far the going had been unusually good, and the wind-up would take but a few hours.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On that very day the picture was to be finished.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On that very day the picture was to be finished.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Bobby’s eyes rested upon them, and, as he showed by a grin, he was pleased.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading It mattered little, therefore, that the director began work an hour late.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On that very day the picture was to be finished.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading So far the going had been unusually good, and the wind-up would take but a few hours.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Bobby’s eyes rested upon them, and, as he showed by a grin, he was pleased.
precisely as stated
From this reading On that very day the picture was to be finished.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On that very day the picture was to be finished.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Present at this last rehearsal were a striking-looking boy of eight or nine and an extremely beautiful girl of seven.
wind-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So far the going had been unusually good, and the wind-up would take but a few hours.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading It mattered little, therefore, that the director began work an hour late.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading So far the going had been unusually good, and the wind-up would take but a few hours.
