used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading He had the gift which all great men possess, of being able to sleep at will.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading TRUE to his word, he returned to his lodgings and spent the afternoon in slumber.
(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 He had the gift which all great men possess, of being able to sleep at will.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TRUE to his word, he returned to his lodgings and spent the afternoon in slumber.
any person at all
From this reading He had but to open the window and drop on to the grass to make his exit without anybody in the house being the wiser.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a remarkably convenient room for him, as he had discovered on previous occasions.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had the gift which all great men possess, of being able to sleep at will.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He had the gift which all great men possess, of being able to sleep at will.
boarding-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
convenientadjectiveUS /kənˈviːnjənt/
suited to your comfort or purpose or needs
From this reading It was a remarkably convenient room for him, as he had discovered on previous occasions.
convertedverbUS /kənˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “convert” — change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading It was a remarkably convenient room for him, as he had discovered on previous occasions.
let fall to the ground
From this reading He had but to open the window and drop on to the grass to make his exit without anybody in the house being the wiser.
exitnounUS /ˈeɡzɪt/
an opening that permits escape or release
From this reading He had but to open the window and drop on to the grass to make his exit without anybody in the house being the wiser.
extraadjectiveUS /ˈekstrə/
more than is needed, desired, or required
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a remarkably convenient room for him, as he had discovered on previous occasions.
something acquired without compensation
From this reading He had the gift which all great men possess, of being able to sleep at will.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading He had but to open the window and drop on to the grass to make his exit without anybody in the house being the wiser.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He had the gift which all great men possess, of being able to sleep at will.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had the gift which all great men possess, of being able to sleep at will.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading TRUE to his word, he returned to his lodgings and spent the afternoon in slumber.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was a remarkably convenient room for him, as he had discovered on previous occasions.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading TRUE to his word, he returned to his lodgings and spent the afternoon in slumber.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He had but to open the window and drop on to the grass to make his exit without anybody in the house being the wiser.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TRUE to his word, he returned to his lodgings and spent the afternoon in slumber.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a remarkably convenient room for him, as he had discovered on previous occasions.
lodgingsnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪŋz/
temporary living quarters
From this reading TRUE to his word, he returned to his lodgings and spent the afternoon in slumber.
engage in
From this reading He had but to open the window and drop on to the grass to make his exit without anybody in the house being the wiser.
the force of workers available
From this reading He had the gift which all great men possess, of being able to sleep at will.
something you have to do
From this reading It was a remarkably convenient room for him, as he had discovered on previous occasions.
held or filled or in use
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had the gift which all great men possess, of being able to sleep at will.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was a remarkably convenient room for him, as he had discovered on previous occasions.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He had but to open the window and drop on to the grass to make his exit without anybody in the house being the wiser.
originallyadverbUS /ərˈɪdʒənəli/
in an original manner
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
From this reading He had the gift which all great men possess, of being able to sleep at will.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading It was a remarkably convenient room for him, as he had discovered on previous occasions.
remarkablyadverbUS /rɪˈmɑːrkəbli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading It was a remarkably convenient room for him, as he had discovered on previous occasions.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading TRUE to his word, he returned to his lodgings and spent the afternoon in slumber.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading He had the gift which all great men possess, of being able to sleep at will.
slumbernounUS /ˈslʌmbər/
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading TRUE to his word, he returned to his lodgings and spent the afternoon in slumber.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading TRUE to his word, he returned to his lodgings and spent the afternoon in slumber.
stayingverbUS /ˈsteɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TRUE to his word, he returned to his lodgings and spent the afternoon in slumber.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TRUE to his word, he returned to his lodgings and spent the afternoon in slumber.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading TRUE to his word, he returned to his lodgings and spent the afternoon in slumber.
verandanounUS /vərˈændə/
a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
walledverbUS /wɔːld/
past form of “wall” — surround with a wall in order to fortify
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was staying at a boarding-house, and occupied a room which had originally been a side veranda, but had been walled in and converted into an extra bedroom.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had the gift which all great men possess, of being able to sleep at will.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading He had the gift which all great men possess, of being able to sleep at will.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading He had but to open the window and drop on to the grass to make his exit without anybody in the house being the wiser.
wiseradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪzər/
comparative of “wise” — having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading He had but to open the window and drop on to the grass to make his exit without anybody in the house being the wiser.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He had but to open the window and drop on to the grass to make his exit without anybody in the house being the wiser.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading TRUE to his word, he returned to his lodgings and spent the afternoon in slumber.
