used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mr. Hebblethwaite permitted himself a single moment of abstraction.
abstractionnounUS /æbˈstrækʃən/
a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
From this reading Mr. Hebblethwaite permitted himself a single moment of abstraction.
(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 His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as political.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as political.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He sat at the head of the table in his own remarkably well-appointed dining-room.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His epigrams had never been more pungent.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading His excellently cooked dinner was being served with faultless precision.
cookedadjectiveUS /kʊkt/
having been prepared for eating by the application of heat
From this reading His excellently cooked dinner was being served with faultless precision.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading He sat at the head of the table in his own remarkably well-appointed dining-room.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading His excellently cooked dinner was being served with faultless precision.
being one more than seventeen
From this reading His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as political.
epigrams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His epigrams had never been more pungent.
excellentlyadverbUS /ˈeksələntli/
extremely well
From this reading His excellently cooked dinner was being served with faultless precision.
faultlessadjective
without fault or error
From this reading His excellently cooked dinner was being served with faultless precision.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as political.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His epigrams had never been more pungent.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He sat at the head of the table in his own remarkably well-appointed dining-room.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He sat at the head of the table in his own remarkably well-appointed dining-room.
Hebblethwaite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Hebblethwaite permitted himself a single moment of abstraction.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mr. Hebblethwaite permitted himself a single moment of abstraction.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He sat at the head of the table in his own remarkably well-appointed dining-room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He sat at the head of the table in his own remarkably well-appointed dining-room.
a particular point in time
From this reading Mr. Hebblethwaite permitted himself a single moment of abstraction.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading His epigrams had never been more pungent.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Hebblethwaite permitted himself a single moment of abstraction.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading His epigrams had never been more pungent.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Hebblethwaite permitted himself a single moment of abstraction.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as political.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He sat at the head of the table in his own remarkably well-appointed dining-room.
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading Mr. Hebblethwaite permitted himself a single moment of abstraction.
involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians
From this reading His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as political.
precisionnounUS /priˈsɪʒən/
the quality of being reproducible in amount or performance
From this reading His excellently cooked dinner was being served with faultless precision.
pungentadjectiveUS /ˈpʌndʒənt/
strong and sharp
From this reading His epigrams had never been more pungent.
remarkablyadverbUS /rɪˈmɑːrkəbli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading He sat at the head of the table in his own remarkably well-appointed dining-room.
represented accurately or precisely
From this reading His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as political.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He sat at the head of the table in his own remarkably well-appointed dining-room.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading His excellently cooked dinner was being served with faultless precision.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Mr. Hebblethwaite permitted himself a single moment of abstraction.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as political.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as political.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He sat at the head of the table in his own remarkably well-appointed dining-room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He sat at the head of the table in his own remarkably well-appointed dining-room.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as political.
in or at that place or location
From this reading His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as political.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as political.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His excellently cooked dinner was being served with faultless precision.
(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 His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as political.
well-appointedadjective
having a full array of suitable equipment or furnishings
From this reading He sat at the head of the table in his own remarkably well-appointed dining-room.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as political.
in the company of; together with
From this reading His excellently cooked dinner was being served with faultless precision.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading His guests--there were eighteen or twenty of them in all--represented in a single word Success--success social as well as political.
