used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Marcia entered her mother's sitting-room in the midst of what seemed a babel of voices.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
arguedverbUS /ˈɑːrɡjuːd/
past form of “argue” — present reasons and arguments
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Marcia came in she heard Arthur say in a loud voice:
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading "Your attitude, mother, is perfectly unreasonable, and I will not submit to be dictated to like this!"
babelnounUS /ˈbæbəl/
(Genesis 11:1-11) a tower built by Noah's descendants (probably in Babylon) who intended it to reach up to heaven; God foiled them by confusing their language so they could no longer understand one another
From this reading Marcia entered her mother's sitting-room in the midst of what seemed a babel of voices.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Your attitude, mother, is perfectly unreasonable, and I will not submit to be dictated to like this!"
BuryverbUS /ˈberi/
cover from sight
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As Marcia came in she heard Arthur say in a loud voice:
contributingadjectiveUS /kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪŋ/
tending to bring about; being partly responsible for
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
power to direct or determine
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
Coryston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
dictatedadjectiveUS /dɪkˈteɪtɪd/
determined or decided upon as by an authority
From this reading "Your attitude, mother, is perfectly unreasonable, and I will not submit to be dictated to like this!"
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Marcia entered her mother's sitting-room in the midst of what seemed a babel of voices.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
only a very short time before
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading As Marcia came in she heard Arthur say in a loud voice:
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Marcia entered her mother's sitting-room in the midst of what seemed a babel of voices.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Your attitude, mother, is perfectly unreasonable, and I will not submit to be dictated to like this!"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Marcia entered her mother's sitting-room in the midst of what seemed a babel of voices.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Your attitude, mother, is perfectly unreasonable, and I will not submit to be dictated to like this!"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Your attitude, mother, is perfectly unreasonable, and I will not submit to be dictated to like this!"
hear with intention
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading As Marcia came in she heard Arthur say in a loud voice:
Marcia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcia entered her mother's sitting-room in the midst of what seemed a babel of voices.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading Marcia entered her mother's sitting-room in the midst of what seemed a babel of voices.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Marcia entered her mother's sitting-room in the midst of what seemed a babel of voices.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Marcia entered her mother's sitting-room in the midst of what seemed a babel of voices.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading "Your attitude, mother, is perfectly unreasonable, and I will not submit to be dictated to like this!"
with speed
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
express in words
From this reading As Marcia came in she heard Arthur say in a loud voice:
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Marcia entered her mother's sitting-room in the midst of what seemed a babel of voices.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
term of address for a man
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcia entered her mother's sitting-room in the midst of what seemed a babel of voices.
a male human offspring
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
submitverbUS /səbˈmɪt/
refer for judgment or consideration
From this reading "Your attitude, mother, is perfectly unreasonable, and I will not submit to be dictated to like this!"
to a sufficient degree
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Marcia entered her mother's sitting-room in the midst of what seemed a babel of voices.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Your attitude, mother, is perfectly unreasonable, and I will not submit to be dictated to like this!"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
unreasonableadjectiveUS /ənˈriːznəbəl/
not reasonable; not showing good judgment
From this reading "Your attitude, mother, is perfectly unreasonable, and I will not submit to be dictated to like this!"
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading As Marcia came in she heard Arthur say in a loud voice:
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Marcia entered her mother's sitting-room in the midst of what seemed a babel of voices.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading He was watching his mother, and she on the other side of the room was talking rapidly to her son Arthur, who could evidently hardly control himself sufficiently to listen to her.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Marcia entered her mother's sitting-room in the midst of what seemed a babel of voices.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
which person or people
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
Wilfrid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading James Coryston, indeed, who was sitting in a corner of the room while Coryston and Sir Wilfrid Bury argued across him, was not contributing to it.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Your attitude, mother, is perfectly unreasonable, and I will not submit to be dictated to like this!"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Your attitude, mother, is perfectly unreasonable, and I will not submit to be dictated to like this!"
