used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As Tom switched the light on, Steve's glance encountered a piece of paper on the floor.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading THE BLUE-BOOK It was almost half-past nine when they got back to the room.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Tom switched the light on, Steve's glance encountered a piece of paper on the floor.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading THE BLUE-BOOK It was almost half-past nine when they got back to the room.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had evidently been slipped in under the door.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
BLUE-BOOK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLUE-BOOK It was almost half-past nine when they got back to the room.
cause to be bored
From this reading "Who's this from?" he muttered as he bore it to the table.
cheerfullyadverbUS /ˈtʃɪrfəli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading It had evidently been slipped in under the door.
encounteredverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntərd/
past form of “encounter” — come together
From this reading As Tom switched the light on, Steve's glance encountered a piece of paper on the floor.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading It had evidently been slipped in under the door.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading As Tom switched the light on, Steve's glance encountered a piece of paper on the floor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Who's this from?" he muttered as he bore it to the table.
geometrynounUS /dʒiˈɑːmətri/
the pure mathematics of points and lines and curves and surfaces
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading As Tom switched the light on, Steve's glance encountered a piece of paper on the floor.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading THE BLUE-BOOK It was almost half-past nine when they got back to the room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLUE-BOOK It was almost half-past nine when they got back to the room.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE BLUE-BOOK It was almost half-past nine when they got back to the room.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading As Tom switched the light on, Steve's glance encountered a piece of paper on the floor.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading "Who's this from?" he muttered as he bore it to the table.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading THE BLUE-BOOK It was almost half-past nine when they got back to the room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading As Tom switched the light on, Steve's glance encountered a piece of paper on the floor.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading As Tom switched the light on, Steve's glance encountered a piece of paper on the floor.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE BLUE-BOOK It was almost half-past nine when they got back to the room.
Roy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading It had evidently been slipped in under the door.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
Steve's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
switchedverbUS /swɪtʃt/
past form of “switch” — change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading As Tom switched the light on, Steve's glance encountered a piece of paper on the floor.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading "Who's this from?" he muttered as he bore it to the table.
tacklenounUS /ˈtækəl/
the person who plays that position on a football team
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BLUE-BOOK It was almost half-past nine when they got back to the room.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE BLUE-BOOK It was almost half-past nine when they got back to the room.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Who's this from?" he muttered as he bore it to the table.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE BLUE-BOOK It was almost half-past nine when they got back to the room.
male cat
From this reading As Tom switched the light on, Steve's glance encountered a piece of paper on the floor.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading It had evidently been slipped in under the door.
on a floor above
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BLUE-BOOK It was almost half-past nine when they got back to the room.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
at the time that
From this reading THE BLUE-BOOK It was almost half-past nine when they got back to the room.
Who's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Who's this from?" he muttered as he bore it to the table.
wondersnounUS /ˈwʌndərz/
plural of “wonder” — the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading An hour in the society of Roy and Harry had done wonders for Steve's spirits, and on the way upstairs he cheerfully announced that he intended to tackle that geometry before he went to bed.
