used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Three of the places were already occupied, and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Three of the places were already occupied, and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Three of the places were already occupied, and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading An intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
bendverbUS /bend/
form a curve
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
terminate
From this reading An intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading This reserve is unquestionably characteristic of the nation; to what is it owing!--modesty?
charitiesnounUS /ˈtʃerətiz/
plural of “charity” — a foundation created to promote the public good (not for assistance to any particular individuals)
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
teach and supervise (someone); act as a trainer or coach (to), as in sports
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
communicationnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/
the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading Three of the places were already occupied, and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside.
a state at a particular time
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
gotten under control
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
having made preparations
From this reading An intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence.
a man who is a native or inhabitant of England
From this reading An intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
a boy or man
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Three of the places were already occupied, and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
intercoursenounUS /ˈɪntərkɔːrs/
communication between individuals
From this reading An intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence.
irksomeadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrksəm/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading An intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading An intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
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 An intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence.
mailnounUS /meɪl/
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Three of the places were already occupied, and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside.
modestynounUS /ˈmɑːdəsti/
freedom from vanity or conceit
From this reading This reserve is unquestionably characteristic of the nation; to what is it owing!--modesty?
Moseley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading This reserve is unquestionably characteristic of the nation; to what is it owing!--modesty?
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
not one, and not any
From this reading An intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
held or filled or in use
From this reading Three of the places were already occupied, and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Three of the places were already occupied, and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Three of the places were already occupied, and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Three of the places were already occupied, and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside.
owingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊɪŋ/
owed as a debt
From this reading This reserve is unquestionably characteristic of the nation; to what is it owing!--modesty?
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading An intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Three of the places were already occupied, and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside.
prudentadjectiveUS /ˈpruːdənt/
careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
rationaladjectiveUS /ˈræʃ.ən.əl/
Based on or in accordance with reason or logic rather than turbulent emotions.
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
reservenounUS /rɪˈzɜːrv/
formality and propriety of manner
From this reading This reserve is unquestionably characteristic of the nation; to what is it owing!--modesty?
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading An intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading An intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence.
past form of “summon” — call in an official matter, such as to attend court
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
carry out
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This reserve is unquestionably characteristic of the nation; to what is it owing!--modesty?
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three of the places were already occupied, and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading An intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
unquestionablyadverbUS /ənˈkwestʃənəbli/
without question
From this reading This reserve is unquestionably characteristic of the nation; to what is it owing!--modesty?
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Three of the places were already occupied, and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading This reserve is unquestionably characteristic of the nation; to what is it owing!--modesty?
at the time that
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
belonging to which person
From this reading The coach had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant.
in the company of; together with
From this reading An intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence.
but in spite of that
From this reading The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his seat in the mail for London.
