used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
Adairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
(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 For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Is it an attack of liver, or the hundred-and-ninety-ninth love episode?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “You’ve been looking as solemn as a boiled owl for days.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last Gwen noticed he was unusually quiet, and taxed him in her customary outspoken fashion.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Is it an attack of liver, or the hundred-and-ninety-ninth love episode?
ballsnounUS /bɔːlz/
plural of “ball” — round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “You’ve been looking as solemn as a boiled owl for days.
boiledadjectiveUS /bɔɪld/
cooked in hot water
From this reading “You’ve been looking as solemn as a boiled owl for days.
customaryadjectiveUS /ˈkʌstəmeri/
in accordance with convention or custom
From this reading At last Gwen noticed he was unusually quiet, and taxed him in her customary outspoken fashion.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
episodenounUS /ˈepəsoʊd/
a happening that is distinctive in a series of related events
From this reading Is it an attack of liver, or the hundred-and-ninety-ninth love episode?
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading At last Gwen noticed he was unusually quiet, and taxed him in her customary outspoken fashion.
moving swiftly
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
gayeties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
Gwen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading At last Gwen noticed he was unusually quiet, and taxed him in her customary outspoken fashion.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At last Gwen noticed he was unusually quiet, and taxed him in her customary outspoken fashion.
hundred-and-ninety-ninth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is it an attack of liver, or the hundred-and-ninety-ninth love episode?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At last Gwen noticed he was unusually quiet, and taxed him in her customary outspoken fashion.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Is it an attack of liver, or the hundred-and-ninety-ninth love episode?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Is it an attack of liver, or the hundred-and-ninety-ninth love episode?
plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
immediately past
From this reading At last Gwen noticed he was unusually quiet, and taxed him in her customary outspoken fashion.
LawrencenounUS /ˈlɔːrəns/
Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
Lawrie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s something the matter with you, Lawrie,” she said.
livernounUS /ˈlɪvər/
large and complicated reddish-brown glandular organ located in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity
From this reading Is it an attack of liver, or the hundred-and-ninety-ninth love episode?
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading “You’ve been looking as solemn as a boiled owl for days.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Is it an attack of liver, or the hundred-and-ninety-ninth love episode?
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading “There’s something the matter with you, Lawrie,” she said.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
being perceived or observed
From this reading At last Gwen noticed he was unusually quiet, and taxed him in her customary outspoken fashion.
held or filled or in use
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
and nothing more
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Is it an attack of liver, or the hundred-and-ninety-ninth love episode?
outspokenadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈspoʊkən/
given to expressing yourself freely or insistently
From this reading At last Gwen noticed he was unusually quiet, and taxed him in her customary outspoken fashion.
owlnounUS /aʊl/
nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
From this reading “You’ve been looking as solemn as a boiled owl for days.
ponderedverbUS /ˈpɑːndərd/
past form of “ponder” — reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading At last Gwen noticed he was unusually quiet, and taxed him in her customary outspoken fashion.
receptionsnounUS /rɪˈsepʃənz/
plural of “reception” — the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “There’s something the matter with you, Lawrie,” she said.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading “You’ve been looking as solemn as a boiled owl for days.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “There’s something the matter with you, Lawrie,” she said.
not in physical motion
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
taxedverbUS /tækst/
past form of “tax” — levy a tax on
From this reading At last Gwen noticed he was unusually quiet, and taxed him in her customary outspoken fashion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There’s something the matter with you, Lawrie,” she said.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading At last Gwen noticed he was unusually quiet, and taxed him in her customary outspoken fashion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For several days Lawrence had only a flying interview with Gwen, so occupied was she with balls and receptions and gayeties of all kinds, and meanwhile he still pondered the question of the Adairs.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “There’s something the matter with you, Lawrie,” she said.
You've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’ve been looking as solemn as a boiled owl for days.
