used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Seven Thorns was rather an imposing place for a little country inn.
accommodationnounUS /əˌkɑːməˈdeɪʃən/
making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
From this reading So was the large dining-room and half of the extensive accommodation downstairs.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Seven Thorns was rather an imposing place for a little country inn.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
bedroomsnounUS /ˈbedruːmz/
plural of “bedroom” — a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
calculatedadjectiveUS /ˈkælkjəleɪtɪd/
carefully thought out in advance
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
coachingnounUS /ˈkoʊtʃɪŋ/
the job of a professional coach
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The Seven Thorns was rather an imposing place for a little country inn.
(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
decaynounUS /dɪˈkeɪ/
the process of gradually becoming inferior
From this reading The greater part of these stables were shut up and falling into decay.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading So was the large dining-room and half of the extensive accommodation downstairs.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading So was the large dining-room and half of the extensive accommodation downstairs.
entertainmentnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
at any time
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
extensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstensɪv/
large in spatial extent or range or scope or quantity
From this reading So was the large dining-room and half of the extensive accommodation downstairs.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading The greater part of these stables were shut up and falling into decay.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Seven Thorns was rather an imposing place for a little country inn.
good-sized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
highroadnoun
a highway
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
imposingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ/
impressive in appearance
From this reading The Seven Thorns was rather an imposing place for a little country inn.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading The Seven Thorns was rather an imposing place for a little country inn.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The greater part of these stables were shut up and falling into decay.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading So was the large dining-room and half of the extensive accommodation downstairs.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Seven Thorns was rather an imposing place for a little country inn.
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 It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The greater part of these stables were shut up and falling into decay.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The Seven Thorns was rather an imposing place for a little country inn.
on the contrary
From this reading The Seven Thorns was rather an imposing place for a little country inn.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading The Seven Thorns was rather an imposing place for a little country inn.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading The greater part of these stables were shut up and falling into decay.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So was the large dining-room and half of the extensive accommodation downstairs.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
stablesnounUS /ˈsteɪbəlz/
plural of “stable” — a farm building for housing horses or other livestock
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
storeynounUS /ˈstɔːri/
a structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
carry out
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Seven Thorns was rather an imposing place for a little country inn.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The greater part of these stables were shut up and falling into decay.
ThornsnounUS /θɔːrnz/
plural of “thorn” — something that causes irritation and annoyance
From this reading The Seven Thorns was rather an imposing place for a little country inn.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The greater part of these stables were shut up and falling into decay.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
the topmost one of two
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Seven Thorns was rather an imposing place for a little country inn.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now.
but in spite of that
From this reading It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad.
