used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
in actual fact
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading DINNER AT TWO SHILLINGS Edmund Grosse was in great moral and great physical discomfort that evening.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading DINNER AT TWO SHILLINGS Edmund Grosse was in great moral and great physical discomfort that evening.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Through the open windows the noises of the street below came into collision with the clatter of plates and knives and forks.
cafenounUS /kəˈfeɪ/
a small restaurant where drinks and snacks are sold
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Through the open windows the noises of the street below came into collision with the clatter of plates and knives and forks.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
clatternounUS /ˈklætər/
a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)
From this reading Through the open windows the noises of the street below came into collision with the clatter of plates and knives and forks.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
climbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
clothsnounUS /klɔːθs/
plural of “cloth” — artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
collisionnounUS /kəˈlɪʒən/
(physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together
From this reading Through the open windows the noises of the street below came into collision with the clatter of plates and knives and forks.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
represented in words especially with sharpness and detail
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
dinedverbUS /daɪnd/
past form of “dine” — have supper; eat dinner
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading DINNER AT TWO SHILLINGS Edmund Grosse was in great moral and great physical discomfort that evening.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
discomfortnounUS /dɪˈskʌmfərt/
the state of being tense and feeling pain
From this reading DINNER AT TWO SHILLINGS Edmund Grosse was in great moral and great physical discomfort that evening.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
Edmund
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DINNER AT TWO SHILLINGS Edmund Grosse was in great moral and great physical discomfort that evening.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
a man who is a native or inhabitant of England
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading DINNER AT TWO SHILLINGS Edmund Grosse was in great moral and great physical discomfort that evening.
facilitynounUS /fəˈsɪlɪti/
a building or place that provides a particular service or is used for a particular industry
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
forksnounUS /fɔːrks/
plural of “fork” — cutlery used for serving and eating food
From this reading Through the open windows the noises of the street below came into collision with the clatter of plates and knives and forks.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading DINNER AT TWO SHILLINGS Edmund Grosse was in great moral and great physical discomfort that evening.
Grosse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DINNER AT TWO SHILLINGS Edmund Grosse was in great moral and great physical discomfort that evening.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
half-dozenadjectiveUS /ˈhæfdʌzən/
denoting a quantity consisting of six items or units
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
the act of retaining something
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
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 After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DINNER AT TWO SHILLINGS Edmund Grosse was in great moral and great physical discomfort that evening.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
a native or inhabitant of Italy
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
and nothing more
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
knivesnounUS /naɪvz/
plural of “knife” — edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading Through the open windows the noises of the street below came into collision with the clatter of plates and knives and forks.
lithenessnoun
the gracefulness of a person or animal that is flexible and supple
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
MollynounUS /ˈmɑːli/
popular aquarium fish
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
moraladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrəl/
concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles
From this reading DINNER AT TWO SHILLINGS Edmund Grosse was in great moral and great physical discomfort that evening.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading Through the open windows the noises of the street below came into collision with the clatter of plates and knives and forks.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Through the open windows the noises of the street below came into collision with the clatter of plates and knives and forks.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading DINNER AT TWO SHILLINGS Edmund Grosse was in great moral and great physical discomfort that evening.
platesnounUS /pleɪts/
plural of “plate” — (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 Through the open windows the noises of the street below came into collision with the clatter of plates and knives and forks.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
done under pressure
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
SHILLINGSnounUS /ˈʃɪlɪŋz/
plural of “shilling” — the basic unit of money in Uganda; equal to 100 cents
From this reading DINNER AT TWO SHILLINGS Edmund Grosse was in great moral and great physical discomfort that evening.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
smellsnounUS /smelz/
plural of “smell” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Through the open windows the noises of the street below came into collision with the clatter of plates and knives and forks.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
tablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/
plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading DINNER AT TWO SHILLINGS Edmund Grosse was in great moral and great physical discomfort that evening.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the open windows the noises of the street below came into collision with the clatter of plates and knives and forks.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He dined, actually for the first time, in just such an Italian cafe as he had described to Molly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading DINNER AT TWO SHILLINGS Edmund Grosse was in great moral and great physical discomfort that evening.
unlikeadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪk/
marked by dissimilarity
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
precisely as stated
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
waitersnounUS /ˈweɪtərz/
plural of “waiter” — a person whose occupation is to serve at table (as in a restaurant)
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading DINNER AT TWO SHILLINGS Edmund Grosse was in great moral and great physical discomfort that evening.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
which person or people
From this reading The heat was intense, the cloths were not clean, neither were the hands of the two waiters who rushed about with a certain litheness and facility of motion unlike any Englishman.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Through the open windows the noises of the street below came into collision with the clatter of plates and knives and forks.
in the company of; together with
From this reading After climbing up a very narrow, dirty staircase, the hot air heavy with smells, he had emerged into a small back and front room holding some half-dozen tables, at each of which four people could be seated.
