used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
(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 For Haredale had lost all geniality.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
billiardsnounUS /ˈbɪljərdz/
any of several games played on rectangular cloth-covered table (with cushioned edges) in which long tapering cue sticks are used to propel ivory (or composition) balls
From this reading CONFESSION Fielden was not enjoying his game of billiards.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
casualadjectiveUS /ˈkæʒəwəl/
marked by blithe unconcern
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
CONFESSIONnounUS /kənˈfeʃən/
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading CONFESSION Fielden was not enjoying his game of billiards.
CopleynounUS /ˈkɑːpli/
American painter who did portraits of Paul Revere and John Hancock before fleeing to England to avoid the American Revolution (1738-1815)
From this reading The reason was obvious why Raymond Copley had made an excuse to get May out of the room.
dispelledverbUS /dɪˈspeld/
inflected form of “dispel” — force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
enjoyingverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading CONFESSION Fielden was not enjoying his game of billiards.
accept an excuse for
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
exercisingnounUS /ˈeksərsaɪzɪŋ/
the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
Fielden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONFESSION Fielden was not enjoying his game of billiards.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading CONFESSION Fielden was not enjoying his game of billiards.
genialitynounUS /ˌdʒiːniˈæləti/
a disposition to be friendly and approachable (easy to talk to)
From this reading For Haredale had lost all geniality.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
the act of departing
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
Haredale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Haredale had lost all geniality.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading CONFESSION Fielden was not enjoying his game of billiards.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
in the recent past
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
lingeringnounUS /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/
the act of tarrying
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading For Haredale had lost all geniality.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The reason was obvious why Raymond Copley had made an excuse to get May out of the room.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The reason was obvious why Raymond Copley had made an excuse to get May out of the room.
used to form the superlative
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading CONFESSION Fielden was not enjoying his game of billiards.
obviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/
easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
From this reading The reason was obvious why Raymond Copley had made an excuse to get May out of the room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CONFESSION Fielden was not enjoying his game of billiards.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
Raymond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reason was obvious why Raymond Copley had made an excuse to get May out of the room.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading The reason was obvious why Raymond Copley had made an excuse to get May out of the room.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The reason was obvious why Raymond Copley had made an excuse to get May out of the room.
term of address for a man
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The reason was obvious why Raymond Copley had made an excuse to get May out of the room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CONFESSION Fielden was not enjoying his game of billiards.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading His instinct told him what was going on, and if he had had any lingering doubt on the subject it would have been dispelled by the most casual glance at Sir George.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading The reason was obvious why Raymond Copley had made an excuse to get May out of the room.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was a favourite game of his, and one which he had not had much opportunity of exercising lately, but he would have given something for an excuse to get out of it.
