used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A group of workmen were busy setting up an immense table.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading They kept pushing the sections together and drawing them apart.
appliedadjectiveUS /əˈplaɪd/
concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with fundamental principles
From this reading It was evident from his manner that she should have applied at the basement entrance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was evident from his manner that she should have applied at the basement entrance.
basementnounUS /ˈbeɪsmənt/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading It was evident from his manner that she should have applied at the basement entrance.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading A group of workmen were busy setting up an immense table.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading They kept pushing the sections together and drawing them apart.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading It was evident from his manner that she should have applied at the basement entrance.
escortedverbUS /eˈskɔːrtɪd/
past form of “escort” — accompany as an escort
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading It was evident from his manner that she should have applied at the basement entrance.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The polished surfaces of the wood filled the room with reflected light.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was evident from his manner that she should have applied at the basement entrance.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading A group of workmen were busy setting up an immense table.
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was evident from his manner that she should have applied at the basement entrance.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was evident from his manner that she should have applied at the basement entrance.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading A group of workmen were busy setting up an immense table.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was evident from his manner that she should have applied at the basement entrance.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading They kept pushing the sections together and drawing them apart.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The polished surfaces of the wood filled the room with reflected light.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was evident from his manner that she should have applied at the basement entrance.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A group of workmen were busy setting up an immense table.
having a point
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/
perfected or made shiny and smooth
From this reading The polished surfaces of the wood filled the room with reflected light.
pompous-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
pushingnounUS /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/
the act of applying force in order to move something away
From this reading They kept pushing the sections together and drawing them apart.
RachelnounUS /ˈreɪtʃəl/
(Old Testament) the second wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading The polished surfaces of the wood filled the room with reflected light.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
sectionsnounUS /ˈsekʃənz/
plural of “section” — a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)
From this reading They kept pushing the sections together and drawing them apart.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading A group of workmen were busy setting up an immense table.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was evident from his manner that she should have applied at the basement entrance.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was evident from his manner that she should have applied at the basement entrance.
surfacesnounUS /ˈsɜːrfəsəz/
plural of “surface” — the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading The polished surfaces of the wood filled the room with reflected light.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading A group of workmen were busy setting up an immense table.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was evident from his manner that she should have applied at the basement entrance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They kept pushing the sections together and drawing them apart.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They kept pushing the sections together and drawing them apart.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading They kept pushing the sections together and drawing them apart.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A group of workmen were busy setting up an immense table.
vestibulenounUS /ˈvestɪbjuːl/
a large entrance or reception room or area
From this reading THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS A pompous-looking butler escorted Rachel through a vestibule, and pointed her to a seat in the dining room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was evident from his manner that she should have applied at the basement entrance.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A group of workmen were busy setting up an immense table.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The polished surfaces of the wood filled the room with reflected light.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading The polished surfaces of the wood filled the room with reflected light.
workmennounUS /ˈwɜːrkmɪn/
plural of “workman” — an employee who performs manual or industrial labor
From this reading A group of workmen were busy setting up an immense table.
