used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Only a few of the gentlemen returned with him to the house.
(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 “But this is all very strange and requires explanation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “But this is all very strange and requires explanation.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Lily, too, had come back to the room.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But this is all very strange and requires explanation.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Lily, too, had come back to the room.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I do not doubt in the least what you say, but it requires explanation,” Mr. Wallace said.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading I do not doubt in the least what you say, but it requires explanation,” Mr. Wallace said.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading “But this is all very strange and requires explanation.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Only a few of the gentlemen returned with him to the house.
plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading Only a few of the gentlemen returned with him to the house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Only a few of the gentlemen returned with him to the house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Only a few of the gentlemen returned with him to the house.
husbandsnounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
plural of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I do not doubt in the least what you say, but it requires explanation,” Mr. Wallace said.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I do not doubt in the least what you say, but it requires explanation,” Mr. Wallace said.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “But this is all very strange and requires explanation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I do not doubt in the least what you say, but it requires explanation,” Mr. Wallace said.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
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 I do not doubt in the least what you say, but it requires explanation,” Mr. Wallace said.
LilynounUS /ˈlɪli/
any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
the force of workers available
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
a form of address for a man
From this reading I do not doubt in the least what you say, but it requires explanation,” Mr. Wallace said.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I do not doubt in the least what you say, but it requires explanation,” Mr. Wallace said.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Only a few of the gentlemen returned with him to the house.
and nothing more
From this reading Only a few of the gentlemen returned with him to the house.
requiresverbUS /riˈkwaɪərz/
third-person singular of “require” — require as useful, just, or proper
From this reading “But this is all very strange and requires explanation.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Only a few of the gentlemen returned with him to the house.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Lily, too, had come back to the room.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading I do not doubt in the least what you say, but it requires explanation,” Mr. Wallace said.
express in words
From this reading I do not doubt in the least what you say, but it requires explanation,” Mr. Wallace said.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading “But this is all very strange and requires explanation.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I do not doubt in the least what you say, but it requires explanation,” Mr. Wallace said.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “But this is all very strange and requires explanation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Only a few of the gentlemen returned with him to the house.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Lily, too, had come back to the room.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
precisely as stated
From this reading “But this is all very strange and requires explanation.
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
WallacenounUS /ˈwɔːləs/
Scottish insurgent who led the resistance to Edward I; in 1297 he gained control of Scotland briefly until Edward invaded Scotland again and defeated Wallace and subsequently executed him (1270-1305)
From this reading I do not doubt in the least what you say, but it requires explanation,” Mr. Wallace said.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I do not doubt in the least what you say, but it requires explanation,” Mr. Wallace said.
which person or people
From this reading Two of them were the husbands of the two ladies who had been with Lily, and who now, with each a volume in her face, joined the surprised and curious men.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Only a few of the gentlemen returned with him to the house.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I do not doubt in the least what you say, but it requires explanation,” Mr. Wallace said.
