used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had a sudden happy idea.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
anew
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading She would ask the telephone Information for the number.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
boothnounUS /buːθ/
a table (in a restaurant or bar) surrounded by two high-backed benches
From this reading She hurried to a booth, followed by the despondent porter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She hurried to a booth, followed by the despondent porter.
cab-starter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
computedverbUS /kəmˈpjuːtəd/
past form of “compute” — make a mathematical calculation or computation
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
despondentadjectiveUS /dɪˈspɑːndənt/
without or almost without hope
From this reading She hurried to a booth, followed by the despondent porter.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading She hurried to a booth, followed by the despondent porter.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She would ask the telephone Information for the number.
Grinden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had a sudden happy idea.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
hand-bag
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading She had a sudden happy idea.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading She hurried to a booth, followed by the despondent porter.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She had a sudden happy idea.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
a message received and understood
From this reading She would ask the telephone Information for the number.
insufferableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsʌfərəbəl/
unbearably arrogant or conceited
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
not able to be found
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading She would ask the telephone Information for the number.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
porternounUS /ˈpɔːrtər/
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading She had a sudden happy idea.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading She would ask the telephone Information for the number.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
tipsnounUS /tɪps/
plural of “tip” — the extreme end of something; especially something pointed
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She hurried to a booth, followed by the despondent porter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
in or at the place that
From this reading She asked if any of them knew where Grinden Hall might be, but they shook their heads.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
womankindnoun
women as distinguished from men
From this reading IN WASHINGTON She went through her hand-bag again, while the porter computed how many tips he was missing and the cab-starter looked insufferable things about womankind.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would ask the telephone Information for the number.
