used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
(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 A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading Volenski looked round anxiously--the crowd in the room was very dense.
arrangingnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒɪŋ/
the act of arranging and adapting a piece of music
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
assembledverbUS /əˈsembəld/
past form of “assemble” — create by putting components or members together
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The sale began punctually at eleven o’clock.
auctionnounUS /ˈɑːkʃən/
a variety of bridge in which tricks made in excess of the contract are scored toward game; now generally superseded by contract bridge
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The sale began punctually at eleven o’clock.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not see Madame Demidoff.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
dealersnounUS /ˈdiːlərz/
plural of “dealer” — someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
Demidoff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not see Madame Demidoff.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading Volenski looked round anxiously--the crowd in the room was very dense.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
being one more than ten
From this reading The sale began punctually at eleven o’clock.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could not see Madame Demidoff.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
JewsnounUS /dʒuːz/
plural of “jew” — a person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Jacob (or converted to it) and connected by cultural or religious ties
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Volenski looked round anxiously--the crowd in the room was very dense.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading He could not see Madame Demidoff.
mostlyadverbUS /ˈmoʊstli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not see Madame Demidoff.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading The sale began punctually at eleven o’clock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
punctuallyadverb
at the expected or proper time
From this reading The sale began punctually at eleven o’clock.
purchasenounUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəs/
the acquisition of something for payment
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
with low volume
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Volenski looked round anxiously--the crowd in the room was very dense.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Volenski looked round anxiously--the crowd in the room was very dense.
salenounUS /seɪl/
a particular instance of selling
From this reading The sale began punctually at eleven o’clock.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He could not see Madame Demidoff.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
precisely as stated
From this reading Volenski looked round anxiously--the crowd in the room was very dense.
Volenski
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
at the time that
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
in or at the place that
From this reading A great crowd had already assembled in the dining-room, where the auction was to be held, when Volenski arrived upon the scene.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
which person or people
From this reading A number of dealers, mostly Jews, who all seemed to know each other, were quietly arranging among themselves as to which particular lot they each intended to purchase.
