used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Ray, who was sitting alone, motioned me to a place by him.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Places were laid along the flower-decked table for thirty or forty.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading I stood apart for a few moments whilst the Duke was greeting some of his guests.
arraynounUS /ərˈeɪ/
an orderly arrangement
From this reading Most of the men were gathered round the huge sideboard, on which was a formidable array of silver-covered hot-water dishes.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Ray, who was sitting alone, motioned me to a place by him.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading Most of the men were gathered round the huge sideboard, on which was a formidable array of silver-covered hot-water dishes.
a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading I stood apart for a few moments whilst the Duke was greeting some of his guests.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading I stood apart for a few moments whilst the Duke was greeting some of his guests.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
flower-decked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Places were laid along the flower-decked table for thirty or forty.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Places were laid along the flower-decked table for thirty or forty.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmədəbəl/
extremely impressive in strength or excellence
From this reading Most of the men were gathered round the huge sideboard, on which was a formidable array of silver-covered hot-water dishes.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading Places were laid along the flower-decked table for thirty or forty.
brought together in one place
From this reading Most of the men were gathered round the huge sideboard, on which was a formidable array of silver-covered hot-water dishes.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading I stood apart for a few moments whilst the Duke was greeting some of his guests.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
HIGHNESSnounUS /ˈhaɪnəs/
(Your Highness or His Highness or Her Highness) title used to address a royal person
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Ray, who was sitting alone, motioned me to a place by him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
hot-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the men were gathered round the huge sideboard, on which was a formidable array of silver-covered hot-water dishes.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Most of the men were gathered round the huge sideboard, on which was a formidable array of silver-covered hot-water dishes.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I stood apart for a few moments whilst the Duke was greeting some of his guests.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Places were laid along the flower-decked table for thirty or forty.
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 HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Ray, who was sitting alone, motioned me to a place by him.
the force of workers available
From this reading Most of the men were gathered round the huge sideboard, on which was a formidable array of silver-covered hot-water dishes.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading I stood apart for a few moments whilst the Duke was greeting some of his guests.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Most of the men were gathered round the huge sideboard, on which was a formidable array of silver-covered hot-water dishes.
motionedverbUS /ˈmoʊʃənd/
past form of “motion” — show, express or direct through movement
From this reading Ray, who was sitting alone, motioned me to a place by him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Places were laid along the flower-decked table for thirty or forty.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Ray, who was sitting alone, motioned me to a place by him.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Places were laid along the flower-decked table for thirty or forty.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
RaynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading Ray, who was sitting alone, motioned me to a place by him.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Most of the men were gathered round the huge sideboard, on which was a formidable array of silver-covered hot-water dishes.
ROYALadjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
sideboardnoun
a removable board fitted on the side of a wagon to increase its capacity
From this reading Most of the men were gathered round the huge sideboard, on which was a formidable array of silver-covered hot-water dishes.
silver-covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the men were gathered round the huge sideboard, on which was a formidable array of silver-covered hot-water dishes.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Ray, who was sitting alone, motioned me to a place by him.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading I stood apart for a few moments whilst the Duke was greeting some of his guests.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading I stood apart for a few moments whilst the Duke was greeting some of his guests.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Places were laid along the flower-decked table for thirty or forty.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading Places were laid along the flower-decked table for thirty or forty.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ray, who was sitting alone, motioned me to a place by him.
troopnounUS /truːp/
a group of soldiers
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Most of the men were gathered round the huge sideboard, on which was a formidable array of silver-covered hot-water dishes.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Most of the men were gathered round the huge sideboard, on which was a formidable array of silver-covered hot-water dishes.
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading I stood apart for a few moments whilst the Duke was greeting some of his guests.
which person or people
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
in the company of; together with
From this reading HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The long dining-room was almost filled with a troop of guests who had arrived on the previous day.
