used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading HAD the stage all to myself for about half an hour.
actornounUS /ˈæktər/
a theatrical performer
From this reading You estimate the position of an actor, by the time he is late for rehearsal.
(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 HAD the stage all to myself for about half an hour.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading HAD the stage all to myself for about half an hour.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If a man keeps everybody waiting an hour and a half, you may put him down as a star.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If a man keeps everybody waiting an hour and a half, you may put him down as a star.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is the etiquette of the theater for every one to be late.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
give a benediction to
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading You estimate the position of an actor, by the time he is late for rehearsal.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading If a man keeps everybody waiting an hour and a half, you may put him down as a star.
a quad with a square body
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
estimatenounUS /ˈestəmət/
an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth
From this reading You estimate the position of an actor, by the time he is late for rehearsal.
etiquettenounUS /ˈetəkət/
rules governing socially acceptable behavior
From this reading It is the etiquette of the theater for every one to be late.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It is the etiquette of the theater for every one to be late.
every person
From this reading If a man keeps everybody waiting an hour and a half, you may put him down as a star.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading HAD the stage all to myself for about half an hour.
HADauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading HAD the stage all to myself for about half an hour.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading HAD the stage all to myself for about half an hour.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading You estimate the position of an actor, by the time he is late for rehearsal.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If a man keeps everybody waiting an hour and a half, you may put him down as a star.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading HAD the stage all to myself for about half an hour.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is the etiquette of the theater for every one to be late.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is the etiquette of the theater for every one to be late.
plural of “keep” — the financial means whereby one lives
From this reading If a man keeps everybody waiting an hour and a half, you may put him down as a star.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading It is the etiquette of the theater for every one to be late.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading If a man keeps everybody waiting an hour and a half, you may put him down as a star.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading If a man keeps everybody waiting an hour and a half, you may put him down as a star.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
used to form the superlative
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading HAD the stage all to myself for about half an hour.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It is the etiquette of the theater for every one to be late.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It is the etiquette of the theater for every one to be late.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading You estimate the position of an actor, by the time he is late for rehearsal.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading If a man keeps everybody waiting an hour and a half, you may put him down as a star.
rehearsalnounUS /rɪˈhɜːrsəl/
a practice session in preparation for a public performance (as of a play or speech or concert)
From this reading You estimate the position of an actor, by the time he is late for rehearsal.
express in words
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading HAD the stage all to myself for about half an hour.
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading If a man keeps everybody waiting an hour and a half, you may put him down as a star.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HAD the stage all to myself for about half an hour.
theaternounUS /ˈθiːətər/
a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading It is the etiquette of the theater for every one to be late.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading You estimate the position of an actor, by the time he is late for rehearsal.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HAD the stage all to myself for about half an hour.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
utilitynounUS /juːˈtɪləti/
a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading If a man keeps everybody waiting an hour and a half, you may put him down as a star.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading If he (I don’t say a word about ladies: they are always an hour late for everything, bless ‘em) is twenty minutes behind, he is most likely mere utility.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You estimate the position of an actor, by the time he is late for rehearsal.
