used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE THUMB-SCREW Coles returned to his study in a very bad temper.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading THE THUMB-SCREW Coles returned to his study in a very bad temper.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been one precious minute during the meeting when he had found himself suddenly thinking:
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
ColesnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “cole” — a hardy cabbage with coarse curly leaves that do not form a head
From this reading THE THUMB-SCREW Coles returned to his study in a very bad temper.
carefully weighed
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading There had been one precious minute during the meeting when he had found himself suddenly thinking:
electverbUS /ɪˈlekt/
select by a vote for an office or membership
From this reading Supposing they should elect me!”
footballnounUS /ˈfʊtbɔːl/
any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
set up or found
From this reading There had been one precious minute during the meeting when he had found himself suddenly thinking:
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There had been one precious minute during the meeting when he had found himself suddenly thinking:
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There had been one precious minute during the meeting when he had found himself suddenly thinking:
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading There had been one precious minute during the meeting when he had found himself suddenly thinking:
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE THUMB-SCREW Coles returned to his study in a very bad temper.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE THUMB-SCREW Coles returned to his study in a very bad temper.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Supposing they should elect me!”
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading There had been one precious minute during the meeting when he had found himself suddenly thinking:
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading There had been one precious minute during the meeting when he had found himself suddenly thinking:
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My word!
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There had been one precious minute during the meeting when he had found himself suddenly thinking:
peculiarlyadverbUS /pɪˈkjuːljərli/
uniquely or characteristically
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading There had been one precious minute during the meeting when he had found himself suddenly thinking:
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THE THUMB-SCREW Coles returned to his study in a very bad temper.
RugbynounUS /ˈrʌɡbi/
a form of football played with an oval ball
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
in a serious manner
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Supposing they should elect me!”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading THE THUMB-SCREW Coles returned to his study in a very bad temper.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading There had been one precious minute during the meeting when he had found himself suddenly thinking:
SupposingverbUS /səˈpoʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “suppose” — express a supposition
From this reading Supposing they should elect me!”
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading THE THUMB-SCREW Coles returned to his study in a very bad temper.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Never before had he seriously considered himself captain of Rugby football; but now that he did so he found the sensation peculiarly delightful.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE THUMB-SCREW Coles returned to his study in a very bad temper.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been one precious minute during the meeting when he had found himself suddenly thinking:
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Supposing they should elect me!”
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading There had been one precious minute during the meeting when he had found himself suddenly thinking:
THUMB-SCREW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE THUMB-SCREW Coles returned to his study in a very bad temper.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE THUMB-SCREW Coles returned to his study in a very bad temper.
precisely as stated
From this reading THE THUMB-SCREW Coles returned to his study in a very bad temper.
at the time that
From this reading There had been one precious minute during the meeting when he had found himself suddenly thinking:
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading “My word!
