used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading The long, insolent shriek of a taxicab arose from the square.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Afternoon sunlight, entering by the single large window, mapped out a radiant oblong of red on the heavy carpet.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading Afternoon sunlight, entering by the single large window, mapped out a radiant oblong of red on the heavy carpet.
cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/
finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading The bedroom was redolent of the sour odor of last night's cigarette smoke.
-ing form of “consider” — deem to be
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
having made preparations
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
a movement into or inward
From this reading Afternoon sunlight, entering by the single large window, mapped out a radiant oblong of red on the heavy carpet.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He had forgotten, for perhaps the first time in his memory, to throw open the window upon retiring.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading He had forgotten, for perhaps the first time in his memory, to throw open the window upon retiring.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The long, insolent shriek of a taxicab arose from the square.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had forgotten, for perhaps the first time in his memory, to throw open the window upon retiring.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Afternoon sunlight, entering by the single large window, mapped out a radiant oblong of red on the heavy carpet.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
ice-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
insolentadjectiveUS /ˈɪnsələnt/
marked by casual disrespect
From this reading The long, insolent shriek of a taxicab arose from the square.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Afternoon sunlight, entering by the single large window, mapped out a radiant oblong of red on the heavy carpet.
immediately past
From this reading The bedroom was redolent of the sour odor of last night's cigarette smoke.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The long, insolent shriek of a taxicab arose from the square.
majoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
mappedverbUS /mæpt/
inflected form of “map” — make a map of; show or establish the features of details of
From this reading Afternoon sunlight, entering by the single large window, mapped out a radiant oblong of red on the heavy carpet.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading He had forgotten, for perhaps the first time in his memory, to throw open the window upon retiring.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
night'snounUS /naɪts/
possessive form of “night” — the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The bedroom was redolent of the sour odor of last night's cigarette smoke.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
oblongadjectiveUS /ˈɑːblɔːŋ/
(of a leaf shape) having a somewhat elongated form with approximately parallel sides
From this reading Afternoon sunlight, entering by the single large window, mapped out a radiant oblong of red on the heavy carpet.
odornounUS /ˈoʊdər/
any property detected by the olfactory system
From this reading The bedroom was redolent of the sour odor of last night's cigarette smoke.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Afternoon sunlight, entering by the single large window, mapped out a radiant oblong of red on the heavy carpet.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He had forgotten, for perhaps the first time in his memory, to throw open the window upon retiring.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Afternoon sunlight, entering by the single large window, mapped out a radiant oblong of red on the heavy carpet.
by chance
From this reading He had forgotten, for perhaps the first time in his memory, to throw open the window upon retiring.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
pitchernounUS /ˈpɪtʃər/
(baseball) the person who does the pitching
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
radiantadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdiːənt/
radiating or as if radiating light
From this reading Afternoon sunlight, entering by the single large window, mapped out a radiant oblong of red on the heavy carpet.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Afternoon sunlight, entering by the single large window, mapped out a radiant oblong of red on the heavy carpet.
redolentadjectiveUS /ˈredələnt/
serving to bring to mind
From this reading The bedroom was redolent of the sour odor of last night's cigarette smoke.
retiringadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrɪŋ/
not arrogant or presuming
From this reading He had forgotten, for perhaps the first time in his memory, to throw open the window upon retiring.
shrieknounUS /ʃriːk/
sharp piercing cry
From this reading The long, insolent shriek of a taxicab arose from the square.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Afternoon sunlight, entering by the single large window, mapped out a radiant oblong of red on the heavy carpet.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The bedroom was redolent of the sour odor of last night's cigarette smoke.
sourverbUS /ˈsaʊər/
go sour or spoil
From this reading The bedroom was redolent of the sour odor of last night's cigarette smoke.
make square
From this reading The long, insolent shriek of a taxicab arose from the square.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Afternoon sunlight, entering by the single large window, mapped out a radiant oblong of red on the heavy carpet.
taxicabnounUS /ˈtæksikæb/
a car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money
From this reading The long, insolent shriek of a taxicab arose from the square.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
propel through the air
From this reading He had forgotten, for perhaps the first time in his memory, to throw open the window upon retiring.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He had forgotten, for perhaps the first time in his memory, to throw open the window upon retiring.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had forgotten, for perhaps the first time in his memory, to throw open the window upon retiring.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He had forgotten, for perhaps the first time in his memory, to throw open the window upon retiring.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The bedroom was redolent of the sour odor of last night's cigarette smoke.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At about five o'clock the next afternoon Peter, in his hotel bedroom, called for a pitcher of ice-water, the major portion of which he disposed of before considering the next move.
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 Afternoon sunlight, entering by the single large window, mapped out a radiant oblong of red on the heavy carpet.
