used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
in the past
From this reading The place had been left to Mrs. Sarrasin years and years ago, and it suited her and her husband very well.
(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 There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Captain Sarrasin and his wife lived in an old-fashioned house on the farther fringe of Clapham Common.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Captain Sarrasin and his wife lived in an old-fashioned house on the farther fringe of Clapham Common.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The place had been left to Mrs. Sarrasin years and years ago, and it suited her and her husband very well.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Captain Sarrasin and his wife lived in an old-fashioned house on the farther fringe of Clapham Common.
Clapham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Sarrasin and his wife lived in an old-fashioned house on the farther fringe of Clapham Common.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading Captain Sarrasin and his wife lived in an old-fashioned house on the farther fringe of Clapham Common.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
DictatornounUS /dɪkˈteɪtər/
a speaker who dictates to a secretary or a recording machine
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
dineverbUS /daɪn/
have supper; eat dinner
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading Captain Sarrasin and his wife lived in an old-fashioned house on the farther fringe of Clapham Common.
firnounUS /fɜːr/
nonresinous wood of a fir tree
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
firsnounUS /fɜːrz/
plural of “fir” — nonresinous wood of a fir tree
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
fringenounUS /frɪndʒ/
the outside boundary or surface of something
From this reading Captain Sarrasin and his wife lived in an old-fashioned house on the farther fringe of Clapham Common.
groundsnounUS /ɡraʊndz/
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The place had been left to Mrs. Sarrasin years and years ago, and it suited her and her husband very well.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Captain Sarrasin and his wife lived in an old-fashioned house on the farther fringe of Clapham Common.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Captain Sarrasin and his wife lived in an old-fashioned house on the farther fringe of Clapham Common.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading The place had been left to Mrs. Sarrasin years and years ago, and it suited her and her husband very well.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Captain Sarrasin and his wife lived in an old-fashioned house on the farther fringe of Clapham Common.
isletnounUS /ˈaɪlɪt/
a small island
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
lawnnounUS /lɔːn/
a field of cultivated and mowed grass
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
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 The place had been left to Mrs. Sarrasin years and years ago, and it suited her and her husband very well.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Captain Sarrasin and his wife lived in an old-fashioned house on the farther fringe of Clapham Common.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
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 The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
engage in
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
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 There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The place had been left to Mrs. Sarrasin years and years ago, and it suited her and her husband very well.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
many times at short intervals
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading Captain Sarrasin and his wife lived in an old-fashioned house on the farther fringe of Clapham Common.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Captain Sarrasin and his wife lived in an old-fashioned house on the farther fringe of Clapham Common.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The place had been left to Mrs. Sarrasin years and years ago, and it suited her and her husband very well.
poolnounUS /puːl/
an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
Sarrasin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Sarrasin and his wife lived in an old-fashioned house on the farther fringe of Clapham Common.
ScotchnounUS /skɑːtʃ/
a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
SICILIANnounUS /sɪˈsɪliən/
a resident of Sicily
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
suburbsnounUS /ˈsʌbərbz/
plural of “suburb” — a residential district located on the outskirts of a city
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
suitedadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtɪd/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading The place had been left to Mrs. Sarrasin years and years ago, and it suited her and her husband very well.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
confined on all sides
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
tinieradjectiveUS /ˈtaɪniər/
comparative of “tiny” — very small
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
very small
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
precisely as stated
From this reading The place had been left to Mrs. Sarrasin years and years ago, and it suited her and her husband very well.
wanderersnounUS /ˈwɑːndərərz/
plural of “wanderer” — someone who leads a wandering unsettled life
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
warriornounUS /ˈwɔːriər/
someone engaged in or experienced in warfare
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The house was surrounded by trees, and had a pretty lawn, not as well kept as it might be, for Captain Sarrasin and his wife were wanderers, and did not often make any long stay at their home in the southern suburbs of London.
at the time that
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Captain Sarrasin and his wife lived in an old-fashioned house on the farther fringe of Clapham Common.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A SICILIAN KNIFE The day had come when the Dictator was to dine with that 'happy warrior,' the Soldier of Fortune.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading There were many Scotch firs among the trees on the lawn, and there was a tiny pool within the grounds which had a tinier islet on its surface, and on the tiny islet a Scotch fir stood all alone.
a late time of life
From this reading The place had been left to Mrs. Sarrasin years and years ago, and it suited her and her husband very well.
