used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At dinner the next evening Mr. Ffrench had a story to tell.
AFTER-DINNER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN AFTER-DINNER SPEECH.
ailmentsnounUS /ˈeɪlmənts/
plural of “ailment” — an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading His nervous ailments had increased of late, and he was not in a condition to be vivacious and dramatic.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN AFTER-DINNER SPEECH.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was the rather exciting story of the completion of Murdoch's labor, the night attack and his sudden departure.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Exciting as it was, however, Mr. Ffrench did not relate it in his most vivid manner.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At dinner the next evening Mr. Ffrench had a story to tell.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading It was the rather exciting story of the completion of Murdoch's labor, the night attack and his sudden departure.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His nervous ailments had increased of late, and he was not in a condition to be vivacious and dramatic.
completionnounUS /kəmˈpliːʃən/
(American football) a successful forward pass in football
From this reading It was the rather exciting story of the completion of Murdoch's labor, the night attack and his sudden departure.
a state at a particular time
From this reading His nervous ailments had increased of late, and he was not in a condition to be vivacious and dramatic.
the act of departing
From this reading It was the rather exciting story of the completion of Murdoch's labor, the night attack and his sudden departure.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Exciting as it was, however, Mr. Ffrench did not relate it in his most vivid manner.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading At dinner the next evening Mr. Ffrench had a story to tell.
dramaticadjectiveUS /drəˈmætɪk/
suitable to or characteristic of drama
From this reading His nervous ailments had increased of late, and he was not in a condition to be vivacious and dramatic.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading At dinner the next evening Mr. Ffrench had a story to tell.
excitingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading It was the rather exciting story of the completion of Murdoch's labor, the night attack and his sudden departure.
Ffrench
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At dinner the next evening Mr. Ffrench had a story to tell.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At dinner the next evening Mr. Ffrench had a story to tell.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His nervous ailments had increased of late, and he was not in a condition to be vivacious and dramatic.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was the rather exciting story of the completion of Murdoch's labor, the night attack and his sudden departure.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Exciting as it was, however, Mr. Ffrench did not relate it in his most vivid manner.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Exciting as it was, however, Mr. Ffrench did not relate it in his most vivid manner.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading His nervous ailments had increased of late, and he was not in a condition to be vivacious and dramatic.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the rather exciting story of the completion of Murdoch's labor, the night attack and his sudden departure.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading It was the rather exciting story of the completion of Murdoch's labor, the night attack and his sudden departure.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading His nervous ailments had increased of late, and he was not in a condition to be vivacious and dramatic.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Exciting as it was, however, Mr. Ffrench did not relate it in his most vivid manner.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Exciting as it was, however, Mr. Ffrench did not relate it in his most vivid manner.
a form of address for a man
From this reading At dinner the next evening Mr. Ffrench had a story to tell.
Murdoch'snounUS /ˈmɜːrdɑːks/
possessive form of “murdoch” — United States publisher (born in Australia in 1931)
From this reading It was the rather exciting story of the completion of Murdoch's labor, the night attack and his sudden departure.
easily agitated
From this reading His nervous ailments had increased of late, and he was not in a condition to be vivacious and dramatic.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading At dinner the next evening Mr. Ffrench had a story to tell.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It was the rather exciting story of the completion of Murdoch's labor, the night attack and his sudden departure.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Exciting as it was, however, Mr. Ffrench did not relate it in his most vivid manner.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the rather exciting story of the completion of Murdoch's labor, the night attack and his sudden departure.
on the contrary
From this reading It was the rather exciting story of the completion of Murdoch's labor, the night attack and his sudden departure.
relateverbUS /rɪˈleɪt/
make a logical or causal connection
From this reading Exciting as it was, however, Mr. Ffrench did not relate it in his most vivid manner.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading AN AFTER-DINNER SPEECH.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading At dinner the next evening Mr. Ffrench had a story to tell.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading It was the rather exciting story of the completion of Murdoch's labor, the night attack and his sudden departure.
express in words
From this reading At dinner the next evening Mr. Ffrench had a story to tell.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At dinner the next evening Mr. Ffrench had a story to tell.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At dinner the next evening Mr. Ffrench had a story to tell.
vivaciousadjectiveUS /vəˈveɪʃəs/
vigorous and animated
From this reading His nervous ailments had increased of late, and he was not in a condition to be vivacious and dramatic.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading Exciting as it was, however, Mr. Ffrench did not relate it in his most vivid manner.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the rather exciting story of the completion of Murdoch's labor, the night attack and his sudden departure.
