used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
(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 Of them all, only Mrs. Graham had smiled when she said good morning.
pleasantly occupied
From this reading Bernard and Landis managed to endure the frost while inwardly amused at the damper their presence placed on conversation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
assembledverbUS /əˈsembəld/
past form of “assemble” — create by putting components or members together
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Bernard and Landis managed to endure the frost while inwardly amused at the damper their presence placed on conversation.
goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
From this reading The detectives ate their breakfast placidly.
attentiveadjectiveUS /əˈtentɪv/
(often followed by “to”) giving care or attention
From this reading Miss Mount saw formally to their wants and Stimson was attentive in his dignified way.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
BernardnounUS /bərˈnɑːrd/
French physiologist noted for research on secretions of the alimentary canal and the glycogenic function of the liver (1813-1878)
From this reading Bernard and Landis managed to endure the frost while inwardly amused at the damper their presence placed on conversation.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading The detectives ate their breakfast placidly.
civiladjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəl/
applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading Bernard and Landis managed to endure the frost while inwardly amused at the damper their presence placed on conversation.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
dampernounUS /ˈdæmpər/
a movable iron plate that regulates the draft in a stove or chimney or furnace
From this reading Bernard and Landis managed to endure the frost while inwardly amused at the damper their presence placed on conversation.
detectivesnounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
plural of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading The detectives ate their breakfast placidly.
dignifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdɪɡnəfaɪd/
having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance
From this reading Miss Mount saw formally to their wants and Stimson was attentive in his dignified way.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading Bernard and Landis managed to endure the frost while inwardly amused at the damper their presence placed on conversation.
a social unit living together
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
formallyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrməli/
with official authorization
From this reading Miss Mount saw formally to their wants and Stimson was attentive in his dignified way.
frostnounUS /frɔːst/
ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)
From this reading Bernard and Landis managed to endure the frost while inwardly amused at the damper their presence placed on conversation.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Of them all, only Mrs. Graham had smiled when she said good morning.
GrahamnounUS /ˈɡreɪəm/
United States evangelical preacher famous as a mass evangelist (born in 1918)
From this reading Of them all, only Mrs. Graham had smiled when she said good morning.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Of them all, only Mrs. Graham had smiled when she said good morning.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Miss Mount saw formally to their wants and Stimson was attentive in his dignified way.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
inwardlyadverbUS /ˈɪnwərdli/
with respect to private feelings
From this reading Bernard and Landis managed to endure the frost while inwardly amused at the damper their presence placed on conversation.
Landis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bernard and Landis managed to endure the frost while inwardly amused at the damper their presence placed on conversation.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading Bernard and Landis managed to endure the frost while inwardly amused at the damper their presence placed on conversation.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Mount saw formally to their wants and Stimson was attentive in his dignified way.
mixturenounUS /ˈmɪkstʃər/
(chemistry) a substance consisting of two or more substances mixed together (not in fixed proportions and not with chemical bonding)
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Of them all, only Mrs. Graham had smiled when she said good morning.
attach to a support
From this reading Miss Mount saw formally to their wants and Stimson was attentive in his dignified way.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Of them all, only Mrs. Graham had smiled when she said good morning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Bernard and Landis managed to endure the frost while inwardly amused at the damper their presence placed on conversation.
and nothing more
From this reading Of them all, only Mrs. Graham had smiled when she said good morning.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Bernard and Landis managed to endure the frost while inwardly amused at the damper their presence placed on conversation.
placidlyadverbUS /ˈplæsɪdli/
in a quiet and tranquil manner
From this reading The detectives ate their breakfast placidly.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Bernard and Landis managed to endure the frost while inwardly amused at the damper their presence placed on conversation.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
reservenounUS /rɪˈzɜːrv/
formality and propriety of manner
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Of them all, only Mrs. Graham had smiled when she said good morning.
cut with a saw
From this reading Miss Mount saw formally to their wants and Stimson was attentive in his dignified way.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Of them all, only Mrs. Graham had smiled when she said good morning.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Of them all, only Mrs. Graham had smiled when she said good morning.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
not in physical motion
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
Stimson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Mount saw formally to their wants and Stimson was attentive in his dignified way.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Miss Mount saw formally to their wants and Stimson was attentive in his dignified way.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Of them all, only Mrs. Graham had smiled when she said good morning.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Miss Mount saw formally to their wants and Stimson was attentive in his dignified way.
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading Miss Mount saw formally to their wants and Stimson was attentive in his dignified way.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Miss Mount saw formally to their wants and Stimson was attentive in his dignified way.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Miss Mount saw formally to their wants and Stimson was attentive in his dignified way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
at the time that
From this reading Of them all, only Mrs. Graham had smiled when she said good morning.
in or at the place that
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Bernard and Landis managed to endure the frost while inwardly amused at the damper their presence placed on conversation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE SOUND OF RUNNING FEET They were received in the dining-room, where family and guests were still assembled, with a mixture of curiosity and barely civil reserve.
