Chapter V · Chapter 5

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

giving or marked by complete attention to

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading I stepped into the room and startled him nearly into a fit.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading It wandered round the room, thumb in mouth, crooning to itself as it took stock of the pictures.

(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

singing in a soft low tone

From this reading It wandered round the room, thumb in mouth, crooning to itself as it took stock of the pictures.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

to a great depth psychologically or emotionally

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

a room used for dining

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

plural of “discovery” — the act of discovering something

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

earlier in time; previously

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading I stepped into the room and startled him nearly into a fit.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I stepped into the room and startled him nearly into a fit.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading I stepped into the room and startled him nearly into a fit.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It wandered round the room, thumb in mouth, crooning to itself as it took stock of the pictures.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading It wandered round the room, thumb in mouth, crooning to itself as it took stock of the pictures.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Undoubtedly this was the "little son."

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading It wandered round the room, thumb in mouth, crooning to itself as it took stock of the pictures.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading I stepped into the room and startled him nearly into a fit.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

not any; not one

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

being perceived or observed

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

by chance

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading It wandered round the room, thumb in mouth, crooning to itself as it took stock of the pictures.

sufficiently fat so as to have a pleasing fullness of figure

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

so as to arouse or deserve laughter

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading It wandered round the room, thumb in mouth, crooning to itself as it took stock of the pictures.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading It wandered round the room, thumb in mouth, crooning to itself as it took stock of the pictures.

a garment worn on the upper half of the body

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

a male human offspring

From this reading Undoubtedly this was the "little son."

excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement

From this reading I stepped into the room and startled him nearly into a fit.

inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step

From this reading I stepped into the room and startled him nearly into a fit.

the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest

From this reading It wandered round the room, thumb in mouth, crooning to itself as it took stock of the pictures.

an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had no business in my room, of course; but was so deeply absorbed in his discoveries that he never noticed me in the doorway.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Undoubtedly this was the "little son."

the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb

From this reading It wandered round the room, thumb in mouth, crooning to itself as it took stock of the pictures.

very small

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading It wandered round the room, thumb in mouth, crooning to itself as it took stock of the pictures.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading It wandered round the room, thumb in mouth, crooning to itself as it took stock of the pictures.

short and plump

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

without doubt; certainly

From this reading Undoubtedly this was the "little son."

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

From this reading It wandered round the room, thumb in mouth, crooning to itself as it took stock of the pictures.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Next day, coming back from office half an hour earlier than usual, I was aware of a small figure in the dining-room--a tiny, plump figure in a ridiculously inadequate shirt which came, perhaps, half-way down the tubby stomach.