used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence
From this reading It would never do, he assured himself, to make a call in his every-day suit!
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
busieradjectiveUS /ˈbɪziər/
comparative of “busy” — actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading It would never do, he assured himself, to make a call in his every-day suit!
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
clothing in general
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
customernounUS /ˈkʌstəmər/
someone who pays for goods or services
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It would never do, he assured himself, to make a call in his every-day suit!
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
being one more than seven
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
at any time
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
every-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would never do, he assured himself, to make a call in his every-day suit!
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It would never do, he assured himself, to make a call in his every-day suit!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
horrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəfaɪd/
stricken with horror
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
immediately past
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
engage in
From this reading It would never do, he assured himself, to make a call in his every-day suit!
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
Morrises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It would never do, he assured himself, to make a call in his every-day suit!
not any; not one
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
PAIRSnounUS /perz/
plural of “pair” — a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
proclaimedadjectiveUS /proʊˈkleɪmd/
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
quarter-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
relieve from
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
SKATESnounUS /skeɪts/
plural of “skate” — sports equipment that is worn on the feet to enable the wearer to glide along and to be propelled by the alternate actions of the legs
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading It would never do, he assured himself, to make a call in his every-day suit!
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
male cat
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
unnecessaryadjectiveUS /ənˈnesəseri/
not necessary
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading TWO PAIRS OF SKATES He didn’t set out for the Morrises house until nearly eight o’clock.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading They had been busier than usual in the store and had not got rid of the last customer until almost a quarter-past six.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
look attentively
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Then, although Tom spent no unnecessary time on his supper, it was way after seven by the time he hurried around to his room to change his clothes.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading As he was far more particular in dressing than he had ever been before in his life, he made slow work of it and was horrified to find that his watch proclaimed the time to be twelve minutes of eight!
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would never do, he assured himself, to make a call in his every-day suit!
