used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He usually travelled third-class to Beddington, but on this occasion he took a first-class ticket.
Ablewhite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He wished to be alone, and the first-class carriages were nearly always empty at this time of the day.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He wished to be alone, and the first-class carriages were nearly always empty at this time of the day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He wished to be alone, and the first-class carriages were nearly always empty at this time of the day.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He wished to be alone, and the first-class carriages were nearly always empty at this time of the day.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He wished to be alone, and the first-class carriages were nearly always empty at this time of the day.
Beddington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He usually travelled third-class to Beddington, but on this occasion he took a first-class ticket.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He usually travelled third-class to Beddington, but on this occasion he took a first-class ticket.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To this piece of extravagance he was impelled by two reasons.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
carriagesnounUS /ˈkærɪdʒɪz/
plural of “carriage” — a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading He wished to be alone, and the first-class carriages were nearly always empty at this time of the day.
chieflyadverbUS /ˈtʃiːfli/
for the most part
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He wished to be alone, and the first-class carriages were nearly always empty at this time of the day.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading He wished to be alone, and the first-class carriages were nearly always empty at this time of the day.
extravagancenounUS /ekˈstrævəɡəns/
the quality of exceeding the appropriate limits of decorum or probability or truth
From this reading To this piece of extravagance he was impelled by two reasons.
FAREBROTHER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISER FAREBROTHER THREATENS JEREMIAH.
first-classadjectiveUS /ˌfɜːrstˈklæs/
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading He usually travelled third-class to Beddington, but on this occasion he took a first-class ticket.
the trait of acting stupidly or rashly
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
set up or found
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He usually travelled third-class to Beddington, but on this occasion he took a first-class ticket.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
impelledadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpeld/
urged or forced to action through moral pressure
From this reading To this piece of extravagance he was impelled by two reasons.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
JEREMIAHnounUS /ˌdʒerəˈmaɪə/
(Old Testament) an Israelite prophet who is remembered for his angry lamentations (jeremiads) about the wickedness of his people (circa 626-587 BC)
From this reading MISER FAREBROTHER THREATENS JEREMIAH.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
matteredverbUS /ˈmætərd/
past form of “matter” — have weight; have import, carry weight
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
MISERnounUS /ˈmaɪzər/
a stingy hoarder of money and possessions (often living miserably)
From this reading MISER FAREBROTHER THREATENS JEREMIAH.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He wished to be alone, and the first-class carriages were nearly always empty at this time of the day.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading He usually travelled third-class to Beddington, but on this occasion he took a first-class ticket.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To this piece of extravagance he was impelled by two reasons.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He usually travelled third-class to Beddington, but on this occasion he took a first-class ticket.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading To this piece of extravagance he was impelled by two reasons.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading To this piece of extravagance he was impelled by two reasons.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He wished to be alone, and the first-class carriages were nearly always empty at this time of the day.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
third-class
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He usually travelled third-class to Beddington, but on this occasion he took a first-class ticket.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He usually travelled third-class to Beddington, but on this occasion he took a first-class ticket.
THREATENSverbUS /ˈθretənz/
third-person singular of “threaten” — pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading MISER FAREBROTHER THREATENS JEREMIAH.
ticketnounUS /ˈtɪkət/
a commercial document showing that the holder is entitled to something (as to ride on public transportation or to enter a public entertainment)
From this reading He usually travelled third-class to Beddington, but on this occasion he took a first-class ticket.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He wished to be alone, and the first-class carriages were nearly always empty at this time of the day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He usually travelled third-class to Beddington, but on this occasion he took a first-class ticket.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He usually travelled third-class to Beddington, but on this occasion he took a first-class ticket.
travelledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
familiar with many parts of the world
From this reading He usually travelled third-class to Beddington, but on this occasion he took a first-class ticket.
treacherynounUS /ˈtretʃ.ər.i/
Betrayal of trust; deceptive action or disloyalty against a host or ally.
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading To this piece of extravagance he was impelled by two reasons.
under normal conditions
From this reading He usually travelled third-class to Beddington, but on this occasion he took a first-class ticket.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To this piece of extravagance he was impelled by two reasons.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He wished to be alone, and the first-class carriages were nearly always empty at this time of the day.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then, in the position in which he found himself--brought about partly by his own folly, but chiefly by the treachery of Captain Ablewhite--it mattered little how much he spent.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading He wished to be alone, and the first-class carriages were nearly always empty at this time of the day.
