used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading DAVID SHELDRAKE DOES A GOOD NIGHT'S WORK.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
AlfrednounUS /ˈælfrəd/
king of Wessex; defeated the Vikings and encouraged writing in English (849-899)
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
backedadjectiveUS /bækt/
having a back or backing, usually of a specified type
From this reading "So you did a good thing on the Derby," he commenced familiarly; "backed the Zephyr Colt, eh?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
brandy-and-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Alfred was not so disposed.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
cigar-case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
ColtnounUS /koʊlt/
a young male horse under the age of four
From this reading "So you did a good thing on the Derby," he commenced familiarly; "backed the Zephyr Colt, eh?
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "So you did a good thing on the Derby," he commenced familiarly; "backed the Zephyr Colt, eh?
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading DAVID SHELDRAKE DOES A GOOD NIGHT'S WORK.
DerbynounUS /ˈdɜːrbi/
a felt hat that is round and hard with a narrow brim
From this reading "So you did a good thing on the Derby," he commenced familiarly; "backed the Zephyr Colt, eh?
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "So you did a good thing on the Derby," he commenced familiarly; "backed the Zephyr Colt, eh?
having made preparations
From this reading But Alfred was not so disposed.
DOESauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading DAVID SHELDRAKE DOES A GOOD NIGHT'S WORK.
take in liquids
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
eh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "So you did a good thing on the Derby," he commenced familiarly; "backed the Zephyr Colt, eh?
familiarlyadverb
in an intimately familiar manner
From this reading "So you did a good thing on the Derby," he commenced familiarly; "backed the Zephyr Colt, eh?
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading DAVID SHELDRAKE DOES A GOOD NIGHT'S WORK.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
provided with artificial light
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
a form of address for a man
From this reading MR.
NIGHT'SnounUS /naɪts/
possessive form of “night” — the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading DAVID SHELDRAKE DOES A GOOD NIGHT'S WORK.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But Alfred was not so disposed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "So you did a good thing on the Derby," he commenced familiarly; "backed the Zephyr Colt, eh?
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
SHELDRAKEnoun
large crested fish-eating diving duck having a slender hooked bill with serrated edges
From this reading DAVID SHELDRAKE DOES A GOOD NIGHT'S WORK.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But Alfred was not so disposed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
a special situation
From this reading "So you did a good thing on the Derby," he commenced familiarly; "backed the Zephyr Colt, eh?
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But Alfred was not so disposed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading DAVID SHELDRAKE DOES A GOOD NIGHT'S WORK.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Mr. Sheldrake helped himself to brandy-and-water, lit a fresh cigar, threw his cigar-case to Alfred with the air of an old acquaintance, and seemed as if he would have been perfectly satisfied to smoke and drink without conversation.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "So you did a good thing on the Derby," he commenced familiarly; "backed the Zephyr Colt, eh?
ZephyrnounUS /ˈzefər/
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading "So you did a good thing on the Derby," he commenced familiarly; "backed the Zephyr Colt, eh?
