used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A great many of them were gathered around the corner where Selingman was seated.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They were standing or sitting about in little groups.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading A great many of them were gathered around the corner where Selingman was seated.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "My little friend," he said, patting the hand of the fair lady by his side, "reassure yourself.
card-rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
confidentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnfədənt/
having or marked by confidence or assurance
From this reading He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but there was still a confident smile upon his lips.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading A great many of them were gathered around the corner where Selingman was seated.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading "My little friend," he said, patting the hand of the fair lady by his side, "reassure yourself.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading "My little friend," he said, patting the hand of the fair lady by his side, "reassure yourself.
brought together in one place
From this reading A great many of them were gathered around the corner where Selingman was seated.
gravernounUS /ˈɡreɪvər/
a tool used by an engraver
From this reading He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but there was still a confident smile upon his lips.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A great many of them were gathered around the corner where Selingman was seated.
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading They were standing or sitting about in little groups.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "My little friend," he said, patting the hand of the fair lady by his side, "reassure yourself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but there was still a confident smile upon his lips.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but there was still a confident smile upon his lips.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were standing or sitting about in little groups.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
James'snounUS /ˈdʒeɪmzɪz/
possessive form of “james” — a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading "My little friend," he said, patting the hand of the fair lady by his side, "reassure yourself.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but there was still a confident smile upon his lips.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They were standing or sitting about in little groups.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but there was still a confident smile upon his lips.
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 A great many of them were gathered around the corner where Selingman was seated.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My little friend," he said, patting the hand of the fair lady by his side, "reassure yourself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A great many of them were gathered around the corner where Selingman was seated.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They were standing or sitting about in little groups.
pattingverbUS /ˈpætɪŋ/
inflected form of “pat” — pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin
From this reading "My little friend," he said, patting the hand of the fair lady by his side, "reassure yourself.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
participate in games or sport
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
reassureverbUS /ˌriːəˈʃʊr/
cause to feel sure; give reassurance to
From this reading "My little friend," he said, patting the hand of the fair lady by his side, "reassure yourself.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "My little friend," he said, patting the hand of the fair lady by his side, "reassure yourself.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading A great many of them were gathered around the corner where Selingman was seated.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
Selingman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great many of them were gathered around the corner where Selingman was seated.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading "My little friend," he said, patting the hand of the fair lady by his side, "reassure yourself.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading They were standing or sitting about in little groups.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but there was still a confident smile upon his lips.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but there was still a confident smile upon his lips.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
having a supporting base
From this reading They were standing or sitting about in little groups.
not in physical motion
From this reading He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but there was still a confident smile upon his lips.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but there was still a confident smile upon his lips.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A great many of them were gathered around the corner where Selingman was seated.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but there was still a confident smile upon his lips.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were standing or sitting about in little groups.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but there was still a confident smile upon his lips.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading He was looking somewhat graver than usual, but there was still a confident smile upon his lips.
precisely as stated
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A great many of them were gathered around the corner where Selingman was seated.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The card-rooms at the St. James's Club were crowded, but very few people seemed inclined to play.
in or at the place that
From this reading A great many of them were gathered around the corner where Selingman was seated.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading "My little friend," he said, patting the hand of the fair lady by his side, "reassure yourself.
