used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The room had a dusty, dishevelled air.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Douglas Falloden was sitting alone in his father’s library surrounded by paper and documents.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Half of the house-servants had been already dismissed; the rest were disorganised.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Douglas Falloden was sitting alone in his father’s library surrounded by paper and documents.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Half of the house-servants had been already dismissed; the rest were disorganised.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Lady Laura had left Flood the day before.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Douglas Falloden was sitting alone in his father’s library surrounded by paper and documents.
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Lady Laura had left Flood the day before.
dishevelledadjective
in disarray; extremely disorderly
From this reading The room had a dusty, dishevelled air.
dismissedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmɪst/
having lost your job
From this reading Half of the house-servants had been already dismissed; the rest were disorganised.
disorganisedadjective
lacking order or methodical arrangement or function
From this reading Half of the house-servants had been already dismissed; the rest were disorganised.
documentsnounUS /ˈdɑːkjəmənts/
plural of “document” — writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading Douglas Falloden was sitting alone in his father’s library surrounded by paper and documents.
DouglasnounUS /ˈdʌɡləs/
United States politician who proposed that individual territories be allowed to decide whether they would have slavery; he engaged in a famous series of debates with Abraham Lincoln (1813-1861)
From this reading Douglas Falloden was sitting alone in his father’s library surrounded by paper and documents.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading The room had a dusty, dishevelled air.
Falloden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Douglas Falloden was sitting alone in his father’s library surrounded by paper and documents.
a social unit living together
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Douglas Falloden was sitting alone in his father’s library surrounded by paper and documents.
FloodnounUS /flʌd/
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading Lady Laura had left Flood the day before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Half of the house-servants had been already dismissed; the rest were disorganised.
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Douglas Falloden was sitting alone in his father’s library surrounded by paper and documents.
house-servants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half of the house-servants had been already dismissed; the rest were disorganised.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Douglas Falloden was sitting alone in his father’s library surrounded by paper and documents.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
and nothing more
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Lady Laura had left Flood the day before.
Laura
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Laura had left Flood the day before.
a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Lady Laura had left Flood the day before.
a room where books are kept
From this reading Douglas Falloden was sitting alone in his father’s library surrounded by paper and documents.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
luncheonnounUS /ˈlʌntʃən/
a midday meal
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Douglas Falloden was sitting alone in his father’s library surrounded by paper and documents.
any object that is left unused or still extant
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Half of the house-servants had been already dismissed; the rest were disorganised.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room had a dusty, dishevelled air.
side-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Douglas Falloden was sitting alone in his father’s library surrounded by paper and documents.
confined on all sides
From this reading Douglas Falloden was sitting alone in his father’s library surrounded by paper and documents.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
traynounUS /treɪ/
an open receptacle for holding or displaying or serving articles or food
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Douglas Falloden was sitting alone in his father’s library surrounded by paper and documents.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Half of the house-servants had been already dismissed; the rest were disorganised.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had just concluded a long interview with the family lawyer; and a tray containing the remains of their hasty luncheon was on a side-table.
