used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
on or to one side
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last the hand which he had been expecting was laid on his shoulder.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading At last the hand which he had been expecting was laid on his shoulder.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “You can give me a few minutes?” enquired the voice of the Marquis.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
enquired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You can give me a few minutes?” enquired the voice of the Marquis.
at any time
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading At last the hand which he had been expecting was laid on his shoulder.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading “You can give me a few minutes?” enquired the voice of the Marquis.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
finestadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəst/
superlative of “fine” — being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
a man of refinement
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading “You can give me a few minutes?” enquired the voice of the Marquis.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading At last the hand which he had been expecting was laid on his shoulder.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
impatiencenounUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəns/
a lack of patience; irritation with anything that causes delay
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading —_Memoirs of Sir John Reresby_.
set down according to a plan
From this reading At last the hand which he had been expecting was laid on his shoulder.
immediately past
From this reading At last the hand which he had been expecting was laid on his shoulder.
latentadjectiveUS /ˈleɪtənt/
potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
MarquisnounUS /ˌmɑːrˈkiː/
humorist who wrote about the imaginary life of cockroaches (1878-1937)
From this reading “You can give me a few minutes?” enquired the voice of the Marquis.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “You can give me a few minutes?” enquired the voice of the Marquis.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
MemoirsnounUS /ˈmemwɑːrz/
plural of “memoir” — an account of the author's personal experiences
From this reading —_Memoirs of Sir John Reresby_.
MENTORnounUS /ˈmentɔːr/
a wise and trusted guide and advisor
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading “You can give me a few minutes?” enquired the voice of the Marquis.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
held or filled or in use
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At last the hand which he had been expecting was laid on his shoulder.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
a human being
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
pretendingnounUS /priˈtendɪŋ/
the act of giving a false appearance
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
PROVINCESnounUS /ˈprɑːvənsəz/
plural of “province” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
Reresby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading —_Memoirs of Sir John Reresby_.
Saint-Ermay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
cut with a saw
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading At last the hand which he had been expecting was laid on his shoulder.
term of address for a man
From this reading —_Memoirs of Sir John Reresby_.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
not in physical motion
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
Vicomte
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “You can give me a few minutes?” enquired the voice of the Marquis.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At last the hand which he had been expecting was laid on his shoulder.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading A MENTOR FROM THE PROVINCES “He was the finest gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw; but could not be long serious, or mind business.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Meanwhile the Vicomte de Saint-Ermay, finding his cousin still occupied, had drawn aside the window curtains and was looking out, or pretending to do so, with latent impatience.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You can give me a few minutes?” enquired the voice of the Marquis.
