used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
Allinson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
a feeling of delight at being entertained
From this reading We're a decorous lot," Wannop remarked, surveying the others with amusement.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
austereadjectiveUS /ɔːˈstɪr/
severely simple
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
basket-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
beechnounUS /biːtʃ/
any of several large deciduous trees with rounded spreading crowns and smooth grey bark and small sweet edible triangular nuts enclosed in burs; north temperate regions
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
beltnounUS /belt/
endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
broachedadjectiveUS /broʊtʃt/
of a cask or barrel
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
burlyadjectiveUS /ˈbɜːrli/
muscular and heavily built
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
clergymannounUS /ˈklɜːrdʒimən/
a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
coppernounUS /ˈkɑːpər/
a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
a body serving in an administrative capacity
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
decorousadjectiveUS /ˈdekərəs/
characterized by propriety and dignity and good taste in manners and conduct
From this reading We're a decorous lot," Wannop remarked, surveying the others with amusement.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
everybody's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
a social unit living together
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
Fenwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
floodedadjectiveUS /ˈflʌdəd/
covered with water
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
brought together in one place
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
Gertrude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
Ghyllside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
itchingnounUS /ˈɪtʃɪŋ/
an irritating cutaneous sensation that produces a desire to scratch
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
LeonardnounUS /ˈlenərd/
United States writer of thrillers (born in 1925)
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading We're a decorous lot," Wannop remarked, surveying the others with amusement.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We're a decorous lot," Wannop remarked, surveying the others with amusement.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
PersonallyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrsənəli/
as yourself
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
red-facedadjective
(especially of the face) reddened or suffused with or as if with blood from emotion or exertion
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading We're a decorous lot," Wannop remarked, surveying the others with amusement.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
solemn-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
the rays of the sun
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
surveyingnounUS /sərˈveɪɪŋ/
the practice of measuring angles and distances on the ground so that they can be accurately plotted on a map
From this reading We're a decorous lot," Wannop remarked, surveying the others with amusement.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
teacups
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
Wannop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
We're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We're a decorous lot," Wannop remarked, surveying the others with amusement.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
in or at the place that
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
whisperingnounUS /ˈwɪspərɪŋ/
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
but in spite of that
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
