used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Brockton was as fond of champagne suppers as anyone, but he was not getting any younger.
any person at all
From this reading Brockton was as fond of champagne suppers as anyone, but he was not getting any younger.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Brockton was as fond of champagne suppers as anyone, but he was not getting any younger.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
attiredadjectiveUS /əˈtaɪrd/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Neither spoke and both looked tired and out of sorts.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
Brockton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Brockton was as fond of champagne suppers as anyone, but he was not getting any younger.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
carelesslyadverbUS /ˈkerləsli/
without care or concern
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
champagnenounUS /ʃæmˈpeɪn/
a white sparkling wine either produced in Champagne or resembling that produced there
From this reading Brockton was as fond of champagne suppers as anyone, but he was not getting any younger.
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
expensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspensɪv/
high in price or charging high prices
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading Brockton was as fond of champagne suppers as anyone, but he was not getting any younger.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading Brockton was as fond of champagne suppers as anyone, but he was not getting any younger.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Brockton was as fond of champagne suppers as anyone, but he was not getting any younger.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
Laura
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Neither spoke and both looked tired and out of sorts.
a person who carries a message
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
negligeenoun
a loose dressing gown for women
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Neither spoke and both looked tired and out of sorts.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Brockton was as fond of champagne suppers as anyone, but he was not getting any younger.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
and nothing more
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
pouringadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/
flowing profusely
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
scanningnounUS /ˈskænɪŋ/
the process of translating photographs into a digital form that can be recognized by a computer
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Neither spoke and both looked tired and out of sorts.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Neither spoke and both looked tired and out of sorts.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
suppersnounUS /ˈsʌpərz/
plural of “supper” — a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Brockton was as fond of champagne suppers as anyone, but he was not getting any younger.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had been out the night before, at a big supper given by some friends, and had only got home in the small hours.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading Neither spoke and both looked tired and out of sorts.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Laura, attired in an expensive negligee gown, sat at one side of the table, pouring out the coffee; Brockton, in a gray business suit, sat opposite, carelessly scanning the _Wall Street Messenger_.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Brockton was as fond of champagne suppers as anyone, but he was not getting any younger.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Late one morning Laura and Brockton were seated at the little table in the parlor, having breakfast together.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading Brockton was as fond of champagne suppers as anyone, but he was not getting any younger.
