used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
allusionnounUS /əˈluːʒən/
passing reference or indirect mention
From this reading Miss Anson took the words as an allusion to the repressed avidity of her readers.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Miss Anson took the words as an allusion to the repressed avidity of her readers.
Anson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Anson took the words as an allusion to the repressed avidity of her readers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
assented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It has been a long time for the public to wait,” she solemnly assented.
attentivelyadverbUS /əˈtentɪvli/
with attention; in an attentive manner
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
aviditynoun
a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something
From this reading Miss Anson took the words as an allusion to the repressed avidity of her readers.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “It has been a long time for the public to wait,” she solemnly assented.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
confidentialadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːnfəˈdenʃəl/
entrusted with private information and the confidence of another
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
emittedverbUS /ɪˈmɪtəd/
inflected form of “emit” — expel (gases or odors)
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
fingeringnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərɪŋ/
the placement of the fingers for playing different notes (or sequences of notes) on a musical instrument
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “It has been a long time for the public to wait,” she solemnly assented.
a man of refinement
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It has been a long time for the public to wait,” she solemnly assented.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They haven’t waited,” he said.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It has been a long time for the public to wait,” she solemnly assented.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
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 “It has been a long time for the public to wait,” she solemnly assented.
manuscriptnounUS /ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/
A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Anson took the words as an allusion to the repressed avidity of her readers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading “It has been a long time for the public to wait,” she solemnly assented.
publishernounUS /ˈpʌblɪʃər/
a firm in the publishing business
From this reading The publisher smiled.
readersnounUS /ˈriːdərz/
plural of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading
From this reading Miss Anson took the words as an allusion to the repressed avidity of her readers.
repressedadjectiveUS /riˈprest/
characterized by or showing the suppression of impulses or emotions
From this reading Miss Anson took the words as an allusion to the repressed avidity of her readers.
revolvingverbUS /riˈvɑːlvɪŋ/
-ing form of “revolve” — turn on or around an axis or a center
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “They haven’t waited,” he said.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “It has been a long time for the public to wait,” she solemnly assented.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The publisher smiled.
solemnlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːləmli/
in a grave and sedate manner
From this reading “It has been a long time for the public to wait,” she solemnly assented.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
substancenounUS /ˈsʌbstəns/
the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
tactileadjectiveUS /ˈtæktɪl/
of or relating to or proceeding from the sense of touch
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “They haven’t waited,” he said.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
in spite of the fact that
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “It has been a long time for the public to wait,” she solemnly assented.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Miss Anson took the words as an allusion to the repressed avidity of her readers.
twistverbUS /twɪst/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
verdictnounUS /ˈvɜːrdɪkt/
(law) the findings of a jury on issues of fact submitted to it for decision; can be used in formulating a judgment
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading “It has been a long time for the public to wait,” she solemnly assented.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading “They haven’t waited,” he said.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
the words that are spoken
From this reading Miss Anson took the words as an allusion to the repressed avidity of her readers.
a late time of life
From this reading This gentleman listened attentively, fingering her manuscript as though literature were a tactile substance; then, with a confidential twist of his revolving chair, he emitted the verdict: “We ought to have had this ten years sooner.”
