used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sometimes the building went on with a spurt, and sometimes for weeks nothing at all was done.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Those optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken.
(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 Sometimes the building went on with a spurt, and sometimes for weeks nothing at all was done.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Owing to the war, and the scarcity of labour, it made slow progress.
annualadjectiveUS /ˈænjuːəl/
completing its life cycle within a year
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Sometimes the building went on with a spurt, and sometimes for weeks nothing at all was done.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Those optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Sometimes the building went on with a spurt, and sometimes for weeks nothing at all was done.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
combineverbUS /ˈkɑːmbaɪn/
have or possess in combination
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
constructionnounUS /kənˈstrʌkʃən/
the act of constructing something
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
recognizable; marked
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
DedicatedadjectiveUS /ˈdedəkeɪtəd/
devoted to a cause or ideal or purpose
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
delaysnounUS /dɪˈleɪz/
plural of “delay” — time during which some action is awaited
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
disappointmentsnounUS /dɪsəˈpɔɪntmənts/
plural of “disappointment” — a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Sometimes the building went on with a spurt, and sometimes for weeks nothing at all was done.
EasternounUS /ˈiːstər/
a Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ; celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox
From this reading Those optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
at any time
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Sometimes the building went on with a spurt, and sometimes for weeks nothing at all was done.
set up or found
From this reading Those optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken.
foundationnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
holidaysnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/
plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Those optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
innumerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnuːmərəbəl/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Owing to the war, and the scarcity of labour, it made slow progress.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading Owing to the war, and the scarcity of labour, it made slow progress.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
LectureverbUS /ˈlektʃər/
deliver a lecture or talk
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Owing to the war, and the scarcity of labour, it made slow progress.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
From this reading Those optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Those optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Sometimes the building went on with a spurt, and sometimes for weeks nothing at all was done.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sometimes the building went on with a spurt, and sometimes for weeks nothing at all was done.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
optimistsnounUS /ˈɑːptəmɪsts/
plural of “optimist” — a person disposed to take a favorable view of things
From this reading Those optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken.
OwingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊɪŋ/
owed as a debt
From this reading Owing to the war, and the scarcity of labour, it made slow progress.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
prize-giving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
processverbUS /ˈprɑːses/
subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading Owing to the war, and the scarcity of labour, it made slow progress.
prophesiedverbUS /ˈprɑːfəsaɪd/
inflected form of “prophesy” — predict or reveal through, or as if through, divine inspiration
From this reading Those optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken.
readinessnounUS /ˈredinəs/
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
From this reading Those optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken.
scarcitynounUS /ˈskersɪti/
a small and inadequate amount
From this reading Owing to the war, and the scarcity of labour, it made slow progress.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading Owing to the war, and the scarcity of labour, it made slow progress.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Sometimes the building went on with a spurt, and sometimes for weeks nothing at all was done.
spurtverbUS /spɜːrt/
gush forth in a sudden stream or jet
From this reading Sometimes the building went on with a spurt, and sometimes for weeks nothing at all was done.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
a word or expression used for some particular thing
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Those optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Lecture Hall is Dedicated Ever since the laying of the foundation stone in January the new Lecture Hall had been in process of construction.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Those optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken.
ThompsonnounUS /ˈtɑːmpsən/
United States classical archaeologist (born in Canada) noted for leading the excavation of the Athenian agora (1906-2000)
From this reading After innumerable delays and disappointments, however, the place was finished by the end of the summer term, and Miss Thompson decided to combine its opening with the annual prize-giving.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Owing to the war, and the scarcity of labour, it made slow progress.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading Owing to the war, and the scarcity of labour, it made slow progress.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sometimes the building went on with a spurt, and sometimes for weeks nothing at all was done.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Sometimes the building went on with a spurt, and sometimes for weeks nothing at all was done.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Sometimes the building went on with a spurt, and sometimes for weeks nothing at all was done.
which person or people
From this reading Those optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sometimes the building went on with a spurt, and sometimes for weeks nothing at all was done.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Those optimists who had prophesied that it would be in readiness after the Easter holidays found themselves much mistaken.
