used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That night at dinner time a stranger appeared at the captain's table.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Crawshay, whose place was nearly opposite, leaned across at once with an air of interest.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Crawshay, whose place was nearly opposite, leaned across at once with an air of interest.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Crawshay, whose place was nearly opposite, leaned across at once with an air of interest.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading That night at dinner time a stranger appeared at the captain's table.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading That night at dinner time a stranger appeared at the captain's table.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
captain'snounUS /ˈkæptənz/
possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading That night at dinner time a stranger appeared at the captain's table.
clothing in general
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
Crawshay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Crawshay, whose place was nearly opposite, leaned across at once with an air of interest.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading That night at dinner time a stranger appeared at the captain's table.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading "Good evening, Doctor," he said.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading "Good evening, Doctor," he said.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "Good evening, Doctor," he said.
gruffadjectiveUS /ɡrʌf/
brusque and surly and forbidding
From this reading "Good evening, sir," was the somewhat gruff reply.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Good evening, Doctor," he said.
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Crawshay, whose place was nearly opposite, leaned across at once with an air of interest.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Crawshay, whose place was nearly opposite, leaned across at once with an air of interest.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Crawshay, whose place was nearly opposite, leaned across at once with an air of interest.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading That night at dinner time a stranger appeared at the captain's table.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
on one occasion
From this reading Crawshay, whose place was nearly opposite, leaned across at once with an air of interest.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Crawshay, whose place was nearly opposite, leaned across at once with an air of interest.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Crawshay, whose place was nearly opposite, leaned across at once with an air of interest.
professionaladjectiveUS /prəˈfeʃənəl/
engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading "Good evening, sir," was the somewhat gruff reply.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Good evening, Doctor," he said.
saloonnounUS /səˈluːn/
a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
term of address for a man
From this reading "Good evening, sir," was the somewhat gruff reply.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading "Good evening, sir," was the somewhat gruff reply.
stewardsnounUS /ˈstuːərdz/
plural of “steward” — someone who manages property or other affairs for someone else
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading That night at dinner time a stranger appeared at the captain's table.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading That night at dinner time a stranger appeared at the captain's table.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That night at dinner time a stranger appeared at the captain's table.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That night at dinner time a stranger appeared at the captain's table.
thick-browed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading That night at dinner time a stranger appeared at the captain's table.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
vacantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪkənt/
void of intelligence or thought
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A dark, thick-browed man, in morning clothes of professional cut, was shown by one of the saloon stewards to a seat which had hitherto been vacant.
belonging to which person
From this reading Crawshay, whose place was nearly opposite, leaned across at once with an air of interest.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Crawshay, whose place was nearly opposite, leaned across at once with an air of interest.
