used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hugh stood by the half-opened door, in a fume of impatience.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The train drew up slowly beside the platform at Victoria, three-quarters of an hour late.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He must go straightway, for he had resolved to have speech with her that night, and further delay would render his visit untimely.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The train drew up slowly beside the platform at Victoria, three-quarters of an hour late.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had telegraphed from Paris to Irene that he would be with her at eight.
next to; at the side of
From this reading The train drew up slowly beside the platform at Victoria, three-quarters of an hour late.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Hugh stood by the half-opened door, in a fume of impatience.
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading He must go straightway, for he had resolved to have speech with her that night, and further delay would render his visit untimely.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Hugh stood by the half-opened door, in a fume of impatience.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading The train drew up slowly beside the platform at Victoria, three-quarters of an hour late.
being one more than seven
From this reading He had telegraphed from Paris to Irene that he would be with her at eight.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He must go straightway, for he had resolved to have speech with her that night, and further delay would render his visit untimely.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had telegraphed from Paris to Irene that he would be with her at eight.
fumeverbUS /fjuːm/
be mad, angry, or furious
From this reading Hugh stood by the half-opened door, in a fume of impatience.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading He must go straightway, for he had resolved to have speech with her that night, and further delay would render his visit untimely.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He must go straightway, for he had resolved to have speech with her that night, and further delay would render his visit untimely.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had telegraphed from Paris to Irene that he would be with her at eight.
half-opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh stood by the half-opened door, in a fume of impatience.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He must go straightway, for he had resolved to have speech with her that night, and further delay would render his visit untimely.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had telegraphed from Paris to Irene that he would be with her at eight.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He had telegraphed from Paris to Irene that he would be with her at eight.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He must go straightway, for he had resolved to have speech with her that night, and further delay would render his visit untimely.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The train drew up slowly beside the platform at Victoria, three-quarters of an hour late.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh stood by the half-opened door, in a fume of impatience.
impatiencenounUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəns/
a lack of patience; irritation with anything that causes delay
From this reading Hugh stood by the half-opened door, in a fume of impatience.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hugh stood by the half-opened door, in a fume of impatience.
Irene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had telegraphed from Paris to Irene that he would be with her at eight.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was that hour now.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading The train drew up slowly beside the platform at Victoria, three-quarters of an hour late.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He must go straightway, for he had resolved to have speech with her that night, and further delay would render his visit untimely.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He must go straightway, for he had resolved to have speech with her that night, and further delay would render his visit untimely.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was that hour now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The train drew up slowly beside the platform at Victoria, three-quarters of an hour late.
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading He had telegraphed from Paris to Irene that he would be with her at eight.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading The train drew up slowly beside the platform at Victoria, three-quarters of an hour late.
renderverbUS /ˈrendər/
cause to become
From this reading He must go straightway, for he had resolved to have speech with her that night, and further delay would render his visit untimely.
determined
From this reading He must go straightway, for he had resolved to have speech with her that night, and further delay would render his visit untimely.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The train drew up slowly beside the platform at Victoria, three-quarters of an hour late.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading He must go straightway, for he had resolved to have speech with her that night, and further delay would render his visit untimely.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Hugh stood by the half-opened door, in a fume of impatience.
straightwayadverb
at once
From this reading He must go straightway, for he had resolved to have speech with her that night, and further delay would render his visit untimely.
telegraphedverbUS /ˈteləɡræft/
past form of “telegraph” — send cables, wires, or telegrams
From this reading He had telegraphed from Paris to Irene that he would be with her at eight.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had telegraphed from Paris to Irene that he would be with her at eight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The train drew up slowly beside the platform at Victoria, three-quarters of an hour late.
three-quartersnounUS /ˌθriːˈkwɔːrtərz/
three of four equal parts
From this reading The train drew up slowly beside the platform at Victoria, three-quarters of an hour late.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had telegraphed from Paris to Irene that he would be with her at eight.
create by training and teaching
From this reading The train drew up slowly beside the platform at Victoria, three-quarters of an hour late.
untimelyadjectiveUS /ənˈtaɪmli/
badly timed
From this reading He must go straightway, for he had resolved to have speech with her that night, and further delay would render his visit untimely.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The train drew up slowly beside the platform at Victoria, three-quarters of an hour late.
VictorianounUS /vɪkˈtɔːriə/
queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901; the last Hanoverian ruler of England (1819-1901)
From this reading The train drew up slowly beside the platform at Victoria, three-quarters of an hour late.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading He must go straightway, for he had resolved to have speech with her that night, and further delay would render his visit untimely.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was that hour now.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had telegraphed from Paris to Irene that he would be with her at eight.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had telegraphed from Paris to Irene that he would be with her at eight.
