used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STRANGE EXPERIMENT.
speak to
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
affabilitynoun
a disposition to be friendly and approachable (easy to talk to)
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The difficulty in the way was practically an impossibility.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
apologynounUS /əˈpɑːlədʒiː/
an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
assumesverbUS /əˈsuːmz/
third-person singular of “assume” — take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His Society had a meeting on that evening, and it was imperative that he should be present.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
Brande
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
BrooknounUS /brʊk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading The difficulty in the way was practically an impossibility.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
EXPERIMENTnounUS /ɪkˈsperəmənt/
the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation
From this reading A STRANGE EXPERIMENT.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
imperativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈperətɪv/
requiring attention or action
From this reading His Society had a meeting on that evening, and it was imperative that he should be present.
impossibilitynounUS /ˌɪmpɔːsɪˈbɪlɪti/
incapability of existing or occurring
From this reading The difficulty in the way was practically an impossibility.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His Society had a meeting on that evening, and it was imperative that he should be present.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading His Society had a meeting on that evening, and it was imperative that he should be present.
modelnounUS /ˈmɑːdəl/
a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
go across or through
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/
almost; nearly
From this reading The difficulty in the way was practically an impossibility.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading His Society had a meeting on that evening, and it was imperative that he should be present.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading His Society had a meeting on that evening, and it was imperative that he should be present.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading His Society had a meeting on that evening, and it was imperative that he should be present.
in the near future
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading A STRANGE EXPERIMENT.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His Society had a meeting on that evening, and it was imperative that he should be present.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Soon after my arrival in London, I called on Brande, at the address he had given me in Brook Street.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The difficulty in the way was practically an impossibility.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading He received me with the pleasant affability which a man of the world easily assumes, and his apology for being unable to pass the evening with me in his own house was a model of social style.
