used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A long table was spread in the low, old-fashioned room of Sivert Jespersen.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading The host, however, was afraid that even this might appear too sumptuous.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although the table-cloth and the napkins were of fine damask, the knives were of a common sort, and the forks of steel.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Although the table-cloth and the napkins were of fine damask, the knives were of a common sort, and the forks of steel.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The host, however, was afraid that even this might appear too sumptuous.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Here and there, at long intervals, stood a bottle of Medoc; besides this there was nothing but water, salt, and bread upon the table.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Here and there, at long intervals, stood a bottle of Medoc; besides this there was nothing but water, salt, and bread upon the table.
a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading Here and there, at long intervals, stood a bottle of Medoc; besides this there was nothing but water, salt, and bread upon the table.
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading Here and there, at long intervals, stood a bottle of Medoc; besides this there was nothing but water, salt, and bread upon the table.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Here and there, at long intervals, stood a bottle of Medoc; besides this there was nothing but water, salt, and bread upon the table.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading Although the table-cloth and the napkins were of fine damask, the knives were of a common sort, and the forks of steel.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
damasknounUS /ˈdæməsk/
a table linen made from linen with a damask pattern
From this reading Although the table-cloth and the napkins were of fine damask, the knives were of a common sort, and the forks of steel.
dining-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
dishnounUS /dɪʃ/
a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
divisible by two
From this reading The host, however, was afraid that even this might appear too sumptuous.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Although the table-cloth and the napkins were of fine damask, the knives were of a common sort, and the forks of steel.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
forksnounUS /fɔːrks/
plural of “fork” — cutlery used for serving and eating food
From this reading Although the table-cloth and the napkins were of fine damask, the knives were of a common sort, and the forks of steel.
an established custom
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here and there, at long intervals, stood a bottle of Medoc; besides this there was nothing but water, salt, and bread upon the table.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading The host, however, was afraid that even this might appear too sumptuous.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The host, however, was afraid that even this might appear too sumptuous.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A long table was spread in the low, old-fashioned room of Sivert Jespersen.
intervalsnounUS /ˈɪntərvəlz/
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading Here and there, at long intervals, stood a bottle of Medoc; besides this there was nothing but water, salt, and bread upon the table.
JespersennounUS /ˈdʒespərsən/
Danish linguist (1860-1943)
From this reading A long table was spread in the low, old-fashioned room of Sivert Jespersen.
knivesnounUS /naɪvz/
plural of “knife” — edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading Although the table-cloth and the napkins were of fine damask, the knives were of a common sort, and the forks of steel.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
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 A long table was spread in the low, old-fashioned room of Sivert Jespersen.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A long table was spread in the low, old-fashioned room of Sivert Jespersen.
MedocnounUS /ˌmeˈdɔːk/
red Bordeaux wine from the Medoc district of southwestern France
From this reading Here and there, at long intervals, stood a bottle of Medoc; besides this there was nothing but water, salt, and bread upon the table.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The host, however, was afraid that even this might appear too sumptuous.
napkinsnounUS /ˈnæpkɪnz/
plural of “napkin” — a small piece of table linen that is used to wipe the mouth and to cover the lap in order to protect clothing
From this reading Although the table-cloth and the napkins were of fine damask, the knives were of a common sort, and the forks of steel.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Here and there, at long intervals, stood a bottle of Medoc; besides this there was nothing but water, salt, and bread upon the table.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A long table was spread in the low, old-fashioned room of Sivert Jespersen.
oil-cloth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading A long table was spread in the low, old-fashioned room of Sivert Jespersen.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
peelingnounUS /ˈpiːlɪŋ/
loss of bits of outer skin by peeling or shedding or coming off in scales
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
pocket-knife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
potatoesnounUS /pəˈteɪtoʊz/
plural of “potato” — an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A long table was spread in the low, old-fashioned room of Sivert Jespersen.
a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
From this reading Here and there, at long intervals, stood a bottle of Medoc; besides this there was nothing but water, salt, and bread upon the table.
Sivert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A long table was spread in the low, old-fashioned room of Sivert Jespersen.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Although the table-cloth and the napkins were of fine damask, the knives were of a common sort, and the forks of steel.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading A long table was spread in the low, old-fashioned room of Sivert Jespersen.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading Although the table-cloth and the napkins were of fine damask, the knives were of a common sort, and the forks of steel.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Here and there, at long intervals, stood a bottle of Medoc; besides this there was nothing but water, salt, and bread upon the table.
sumptuousadjectiveUS /ˈsʌmptʃwəs/
ostentatiously rich and superior in quality
From this reading The host, however, was afraid that even this might appear too sumptuous.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading A long table was spread in the low, old-fashioned room of Sivert Jespersen.
table-cloth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although the table-cloth and the napkins were of fine damask, the knives were of a common sort, and the forks of steel.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The host, however, was afraid that even this might appear too sumptuous.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A long table was spread in the low, old-fashioned room of Sivert Jespersen.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Here and there, at long intervals, stood a bottle of Medoc; besides this there was nothing but water, salt, and bread upon the table.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Here and there, at long intervals, stood a bottle of Medoc; besides this there was nothing but water, salt, and bread upon the table.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The host, however, was afraid that even this might appear too sumptuous.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Here and there, at long intervals, stood a bottle of Medoc; besides this there was nothing but water, salt, and bread upon the table.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A long table was spread in the low, old-fashioned room of Sivert Jespersen.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Here and there, at long intervals, stood a bottle of Medoc; besides this there was nothing but water, salt, and bread upon the table.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Although the table-cloth and the napkins were of fine damask, the knives were of a common sort, and the forks of steel.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In ordinary life an oil-cloth covered his dining-table, and he was in the habit of taking potatoes out of the dish with his fingers, and peeling them with his pocket-knife.
