used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading With his restored authority had come back the old easy habit of it.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
uttered without voice
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
chairmannounUS /ˈtʃermən/
the officer who presides at the meetings of an organization
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading With his restored authority had come back the old easy habit of it.
CommandantnounUS /ˌkɑːmənˈdɑːnt/
an officer in command of a military unit
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
COMMISSIONERnounUS /kəˈmɪʃənər/
a government administrator
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
Councillors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading With his restored authority had come back the old easy habit of it.
to come or go into
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
divisible by two
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
fewestadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːəst/
(superlative of “few” used with count nouns and usually preceded by “the”) quantifier meaning the smallest in number
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
an established custom
From this reading With his restored authority had come back the old easy habit of it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He scarcely knew what he had said, and yet he had spoken well.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He scarcely knew what he had said, and yet he had spoken well.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
a particular point in time
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
the middle of the day
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading With his restored authority had come back the old easy habit of it.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
presidencynounUS /ˈprezədənsi/
the tenure of a president
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
restoredverbUS /rɪˈstɔːrd/
past form of “restore” — return to its original or usable and functioning condition
From this reading With his restored authority had come back the old easy habit of it.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He scarcely knew what he had said, and yet he had spoken well.
only a very short time before
From this reading He scarcely knew what he had said, and yet he had spoken well.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading He scarcely knew what he had said, and yet he had spoken well.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ENTER THE COMMISSIONER It was noon, and in the Court House all the Councillors rose as the Commandant entered and took his seat.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading He scarcely knew what he had said, and yet he had spoken well.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He scarcely knew what he had said, and yet he had spoken well.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With his restored authority had come back the old easy habit of it.
the words that are spoken
From this reading In the fewest possible words he opened the business, and leaned back in his chair of state, waiting for the talk to begin.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading At such a moment the Councillors would not have allowed, even to themselves, that they breathed more easily and fell to business almost with a sigh of relief, under the presidency of their old chairman.
but in spite of that
From this reading He scarcely knew what he had said, and yet he had spoken well.
