used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Easton walked a trifle too solemnly straight, as if he had set himself an imaginary chalk-line to follow.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And they began to plead engagements in offices or homes or Parliament.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Easton walked a trifle too solemnly straight, as if he had set himself an imaginary chalk-line to follow.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading And they began to plead engagements in offices or homes or Parliament.
of short duration or distance
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
chalk-line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Easton walked a trifle too solemnly straight, as if he had set himself an imaginary chalk-line to follow.
dining-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
Easton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not yet ten o'clock when the last of the guests had gone, except Nicholas Easton.
embarrassmentnounUS /ɪmˈberəsmənt/
the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
engagementsnounUS /enˈɡeɪdʒmənts/
plural of “engagement” — a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading And they began to plead engagements in offices or homes or Parliament.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
apart from; not including
From this reading It was not yet ten o'clock when the last of the guests had gone, except Nicholas Easton.
flockedverbUS /flɑːkt/
past form of “flock” — move as a crowd or in a group
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Easton walked a trifle too solemnly straight, as if he had set himself an imaginary chalk-line to follow.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
destroyed or killed
From this reading It was not yet ten o'clock when the last of the guests had gone, except Nicholas Easton.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading It was not yet ten o'clock when the last of the guests had gone, except Nicholas Easton.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was not yet ten o'clock when the last of the guests had gone, except Nicholas Easton.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Easton walked a trifle too solemnly straight, as if he had set himself an imaginary chalk-line to follow.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And Sir Joseph took him into his own study.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Easton walked a trifle too solemnly straight, as if he had set himself an imaginary chalk-line to follow.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And Sir Joseph took him into his own study.
homesnounUS /hoʊmz/
plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time
From this reading And they began to plead engagements in offices or homes or Parliament.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Easton walked a trifle too solemnly straight, as if he had set himself an imaginary chalk-line to follow.
imaginaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒəneri/
not based on fact; existing only in the imagination
From this reading Easton walked a trifle too solemnly straight, as if he had set himself an imaginary chalk-line to follow.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not yet ten o'clock when the last of the guests had gone, except Nicholas Easton.
leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)
From this reading And Sir Joseph took him into his own study.
immediately past
From this reading It was not yet ten o'clock when the last of the guests had gone, except Nicholas Easton.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
the force of workers available
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
NicholasnounUS /ˈnɪkələs/
a bishop in Asia Minor who is associated with Santa Claus (4th century)
From this reading It was not yet ten o'clock when the last of the guests had gone, except Nicholas Easton.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not yet ten o'clock when the last of the guests had gone, except Nicholas Easton.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading It was not yet ten o'clock when the last of the guests had gone, except Nicholas Easton.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was not yet ten o'clock when the last of the guests had gone, except Nicholas Easton.
officesnounUS /ˈɔːfəsəz/
plural of “office” — place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading And they began to plead engagements in offices or homes or Parliament.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading And they began to plead engagements in offices or homes or Parliament.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading And Sir Joseph took him into his own study.
ParliamentnounUS /ˈpɑːrləmənt/
a legislative assembly in certain countries
From this reading And they began to plead engagements in offices or homes or Parliament.
pleadverbUS /pliːd/
appeal or request earnestly
From this reading And they began to plead engagements in offices or homes or Parliament.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Easton walked a trifle too solemnly straight, as if he had set himself an imaginary chalk-line to follow.
term of address for a man
From this reading And Sir Joseph took him into his own study.
solemnlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːləmli/
in a grave and sedate manner
From this reading Easton walked a trifle too solemnly straight, as if he had set himself an imaginary chalk-line to follow.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Easton walked a trifle too solemnly straight, as if he had set himself an imaginary chalk-line to follow.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading And Sir Joseph took him into his own study.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading It was not yet ten o'clock when the last of the guests had gone, except Nicholas Easton.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And they began to plead engagements in offices or homes or Parliament.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading And Sir Joseph took him into his own study.
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading Easton walked a trifle too solemnly straight, as if he had set himself an imaginary chalk-line to follow.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Easton walked a trifle too solemnly straight, as if he had set himself an imaginary chalk-line to follow.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not yet ten o'clock when the last of the guests had gone, except Nicholas Easton.
at the time that
From this reading It was not yet ten o'clock when the last of the guests had gone, except Nicholas Easton.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading There must have been embarrassment enough left to go round the dining-table, too, for in an unusually brief while the men flocked into the drawing-room.
but in spite of that
From this reading It was not yet ten o'clock when the last of the guests had gone, except Nicholas Easton.
