used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
adaptedadjectiveUS /əˈdæptɪd/
changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
BondnounUS /bɑːnd/
an electrical force linking atoms
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading This was what Erpingham called "reading made easy."
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
constructedverbUS /kənˈstrʌktəd/
past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading This was what Erpingham called "reading made easy."
make void or empty of contents
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
EnglishmannounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃmən/
a man who is a native or inhabitant of England
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
a movement into or inward
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
Erpingham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
fire-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
fragrancynoun
a pleasingly sweet olfactory property
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
fragrantadjectiveUS /ˈfreɪɡrənt/
pleasant-smelling
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
lordshipnounUS /ˈlɔːrdʃɪp/
a title used to address any British peer except a duke and extended to a bishop or a judge
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading This was what Erpingham called "reading made easy."
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
NewcastlenounUS /ˈnuːkæsəl/
a port city in northeastern England on the River Tyne; a center for coal exports (giving rise to the expression “carry coals to Newcastle” meaning to do something unnecessary)
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
in the near future
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
recliningnounUS /rɪˈklaɪnɪŋ/
the act of assuming or maintaining a reclining position
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
cut with a saw
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
sofanounUS /ˈsoʊfə/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
Spoonbillnoun
wading birds having a long flat bill with a tip like a spoon
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
in or at that place or location
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was what Erpingham called "reading made easy."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
in the direction of
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
usheredverbUS /ˈʌʃərd/
past form of “usher” — take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading By an instinct natural to an Englishman he advanced towards the fire-place, and there he presently saw on a sofa, the back of which was towards the door, his friend Erpingham reclining at full length, and having before him an open volume placed on a low table, which had been constructed and adapted for reading on a sofa.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
warmthnounUS /wɔːrmθ/
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading This was what Erpingham called "reading made easy."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Lord Spoonbill was ushered into an apartment, the air of which was warm and fragrant: the warmth came from Newcastle, and the fragrancy from Bond street.
which person or people
From this reading The servant who had opened the door for him closed it immediately behind him, and he seemed to be in an empty apartment.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At first entering the room his lordship saw not any one to whom his name could have been announced.
