used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
agitatedadjectiveUS /ˈædʒəteɪtɪd/
troubled emotionally and usually deeply
From this reading She wandered round the house, greatly agitated and uncertain what to do.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She wandered round the house, greatly agitated and uncertain what to do.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was sitting there smoking with some friends; and as she passed she listened to the lads' noisy voices.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
a youthful male person
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
chatterverbUS /ˈtʃætər/
click repeatedly or uncontrollably
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
consumedverbUS /kənˈsuːmd/
past form of “consume” — eat up completely, as with great appetite
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
dinner-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
having the place or position changed
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading She wandered round the house, greatly agitated and uncertain what to do.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading She heard her son Pol, the undergraduate, in his room downstairs, next to the front-door.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
feverishadjectiveUS /ˈfiːvərɪʃ/
marked by intense agitation or emotion
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
fiercelyadverbUS /ˈfɪrsli/
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading He was sitting there smoking with some friends; and as she passed she listened to the lads' noisy voices.
front-door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She heard her son Pol, the undergraduate, in his room downstairs, next to the front-door.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
the act of departing
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading She wandered round the house, greatly agitated and uncertain what to do.
GusnounUS /ɡʌs/
plural of “gu” — the largest and southernmost island in the Marianas which is administered as a territory of the United States; it was ceded by Spain to the United States in 1898
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was sitting there smoking with some friends; and as she passed she listened to the lads' noisy voices.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She heard her son Pol, the undergraduate, in his room downstairs, next to the front-door.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She heard her son Pol, the undergraduate, in his room downstairs, next to the front-door.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She heard her son Pol, the undergraduate, in his room downstairs, next to the front-door.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading She wandered round the house, greatly agitated and uncertain what to do.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She heard her son Pol, the undergraduate, in his room downstairs, next to the front-door.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading He was sitting there smoking with some friends; and as she passed she listened to the lads' noisy voices.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading He was sitting there smoking with some friends; and as she passed she listened to the lads' noisy voices.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
a particular point in time
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading She heard her son Pol, the undergraduate, in his room downstairs, next to the front-door.
noisyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔɪzi/
full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
From this reading He was sitting there smoking with some friends; and as she passed she listened to the lads' noisy voices.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He was sitting there smoking with some friends; and as she passed she listened to the lads' noisy voices.
PolnounUS /pɔːl/
a person active in party politics
From this reading She heard her son Pol, the undergraduate, in his room downstairs, next to the front-door.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading She heard her son Pol, the undergraduate, in his room downstairs, next to the front-door.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading She wandered round the house, greatly agitated and uncertain what to do.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She wandered round the house, greatly agitated and uncertain what to do.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading He was sitting there smoking with some friends; and as she passed she listened to the lads' noisy voices.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading He was sitting there smoking with some friends; and as she passed she listened to the lads' noisy voices.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He was sitting there smoking with some friends; and as she passed she listened to the lads' noisy voices.
a male human offspring
From this reading She heard her son Pol, the undergraduate, in his room downstairs, next to the front-door.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She wandered round the house, greatly agitated and uncertain what to do.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He was sitting there smoking with some friends; and as she passed she listened to the lads' noisy voices.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She wandered round the house, greatly agitated and uncertain what to do.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She now thought of going to her father in his study, but it was too near dinner-time, she feared, and Papa did not like being disturbed at this hour.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading She wandered round the house, greatly agitated and uncertain what to do.
undergraduatenounUS /ˌʌndərˈɡrædʒəwət/
a university student who has not yet received a first degree
From this reading She heard her son Pol, the undergraduate, in his room downstairs, next to the front-door.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He was sitting there smoking with some friends; and as she passed she listened to the lads' noisy voices.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading She wandered round the house, greatly agitated and uncertain what to do.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was sitting there smoking with some friends; and as she passed she listened to the lads' noisy voices.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She wandered round the house, greatly agitated and uncertain what to do.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was sitting there smoking with some friends; and as she passed she listened to the lads' noisy voices.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
youthfuladjectiveUS /ˈjuːθfəl/
suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh
From this reading There was a ring at the door: it was her younger boy, Gus, her favourite; and, glad to hear his merry and youthful chatter, she forgot for a moment the feverish curiosity that consumed her so fiercely.
