used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
ante-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
armchairnounUS /ˈɑːrmtʃer/
chair with a support on each side for arms
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading Bill Staveley eyed him quizzically.
bookienounUS /ˈbʊki/
a gambler who accepts and pays off bets (especially on horse races)
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading “Rotten place to spend the evening,” he observed with cheerful scorn.
comfortablyadverbUS /ˈkʌmfərtəbli/
in mental comfort; without stress
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
compilingnounUS /kəmˈpaɪlɪŋ/
the act of compiling (as into a single book or file or list)
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
directorynounUS /dərˈektəri/
an alphabetical list of names and addresses
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Here, to his surprise, he discovered Fayre.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading “Rotten place to spend the evening,” he observed with cheerful scorn.
eyedadjectiveUS /aɪd/
having an eye or eyes or eyelike feature especially as specified; often used in combination
From this reading Bill Staveley eyed him quizzically.
Fayre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here, to his surprise, he discovered Fayre.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
half-sheet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Here, to his surprise, he discovered Fayre.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here, to his surprise, he discovered Fayre.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Bill Staveley eyed him quizzically.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
housedverbUS /haʊzd/
past form of “house” — contain or cover
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
localadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkəl/
relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading “Rotten place to spend the evening,” he observed with cheerful scorn.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading “Rotten place to spend the evening,” he observed with cheerful scorn.
quizzicallyadverb
in a quizzical and questioning manner
From this reading Bill Staveley eyed him quizzically.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
RottenadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːtən/
very bad
From this reading “Rotten place to spend the evening,” he observed with cheerful scorn.
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading “Rotten place to spend the evening,” he observed with cheerful scorn.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading “Rotten place to spend the evening,” he observed with cheerful scorn.
Staveley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
strolledverbUS /stroʊld/
past form of “stroll” — walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Here, to his surprise, he discovered Fayre.
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 After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
wishingnounUS /ˈwɪʃɪŋ/
a specific feeling of desire
From this reading After dinner that night Lord Staveley, wishing to ring up his bookie, strolled into the little ante-room that housed the telephone.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had settled himself comfortably in the one armchair and, with the help of the local telephone directory, was busy compiling a list on a half-sheet of paper.
