used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Mrs. Gum herself sat on a low chair by the fire, her eyes swollen with crying.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But Mrs. Gum herself sat on a low chair by the fire, her eyes swollen with crying.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading But Mrs. Gum herself sat on a low chair by the fire, her eyes swollen with crying.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
clerk'snounUS /klɜːrks/
possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
demanding attention
From this reading But Mrs. Gum herself sat on a low chair by the fire, her eyes swollen with crying.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading LATER IN THE DAY.
opinion or judgment
From this reading But Mrs. Gum herself sat on a low chair by the fire, her eyes swollen with crying.
start firing a weapon
From this reading But Mrs. Gum herself sat on a low chair by the fire, her eyes swollen with crying.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
Garchester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
GumnounUS /ɡʌm/
a preparation (usually made of sweetened chicle) for chewing
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But Mrs. Gum herself sat on a low chair by the fire, her eyes swollen with crying.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading But Mrs. Gum herself sat on a low chair by the fire, her eyes swollen with crying.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading LATER IN THE DAY.
inquestnounUS /ˈɪnkwest/
an inquiry into the cause of an unexpected death
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
set down according to a plan
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading LATER IN THE DAY.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading But Mrs. Gum herself sat on a low chair by the fire, her eyes swollen with crying.
the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading But Mrs. Gum herself sat on a low chair by the fire, her eyes swollen with crying.
muffinsnounUS /ˈmʌfənz/
plural of “muffin” — a sweet quick bread baked in a cup-shaped pan
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
refreshmentnounUS /rəˈfreʃmənt/
snacks and drinks served as a light meal
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
regalement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading But Mrs. Gum herself sat on a low chair by the fire, her eyes swollen with crying.
cut with a saw
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
semi-idiocy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
substantialadjectiveUS /səbˈstænʃəl/
of considerable importance, size, or worth
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
swollenadjectiveUS /ˈswoʊlən/
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading But Mrs. Gum herself sat on a low chair by the fire, her eyes swollen with crying.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
tea-things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LATER IN THE DAY.
a special situation
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
toastingnounUS /ˈtoʊstɪŋ/
cooking to a brown crispiness over a fire or on a grill
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The tea-things were laid on the table, and substantial refreshment in the shape of cold meat, and a plate of muffins ready for toasting, all for the clerk's regalement.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It happened that Clerk Gum had business on hand the day of the inquest, which obliged him to go to Garchester.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He reached home after dark; and the first thing he saw was his wife, in what he was pleased to call a state of semi-idiocy.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But Mrs. Gum herself sat on a low chair by the fire, her eyes swollen with crying.
