used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ON THE MATTER OF A RAILWAY.
anew
From this reading At last, when his coat was on, he walked two or three times up and down the room, frowning, smiling for an instant, frowning long again.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At last, when his coat was on, he walked two or three times up and down the room, frowning, smiling for an instant, frowning long again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He opened it and took from her three or four letters.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Willie Ruston was half-dressed when the chamber-maid knocked at his door.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
chamber-maid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie Ruston was half-dressed when the chamber-maid knocked at his door.
cheatverbUS /tʃiːt/
deprive somebody of something by deceit
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading At last, when his coat was on, he walked two or three times up and down the room, frowning, smiling for an instant, frowning long again.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
devoidadjectiveUS /dɪˈvɔɪd/
completely wanting or lacking
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Willie Ruston was half-dressed when the chamber-maid knocked at his door.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading At last, when his coat was on, he walked two or three times up and down the room, frowning, smiling for an instant, frowning long again.
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At last, when his coat was on, he walked two or three times up and down the room, frowning, smiling for an instant, frowning long again.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading He opened it and took from her three or four letters.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He opened it and took from her three or four letters.
frowningadjectiveUS /ˈfraʊnɪŋ/
showing displeasure or anger
From this reading At last, when his coat was on, he walked two or three times up and down the room, frowning, smiling for an instant, frowning long again.
half-dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie Ruston was half-dressed when the chamber-maid knocked at his door.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He opened it and took from her three or four letters.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He opened it and took from her three or four letters.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Willie Ruston was half-dressed when the chamber-maid knocked at his door.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading At last, when his coat was on, he walked two or three times up and down the room, frowning, smiling for an instant, frowning long again.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He opened it and took from her three or four letters.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading Willie Ruston was half-dressed when the chamber-maid knocked at his door.
immediately past
From this reading At last, when his coat was on, he walked two or three times up and down the room, frowning, smiling for an instant, frowning long again.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
the literary culture
From this reading He opened it and took from her three or four letters.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading At last, when his coat was on, he walked two or three times up and down the room, frowning, smiling for an instant, frowning long again.
loungingverbUS /ˈlaʊndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “lounge” — sit or recline comfortably
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
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 Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading ON THE MATTER OF A RAILWAY.
the force of workers available
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ON THE MATTER OF A RAILWAY.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE MATTER OF A RAILWAY.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He opened it and took from her three or four letters.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He opened it and took from her three or four letters.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
processverbUS /ˈprɑːses/
subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading ON THE MATTER OF A RAILWAY.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading At last, when his coat was on, he walked two or three times up and down the room, frowning, smiling for an instant, frowning long again.
Ruston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie Ruston was half-dressed when the chamber-maid knocked at his door.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading At last, when his coat was on, he walked two or three times up and down the room, frowning, smiling for an instant, frowning long again.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE MATTER OF A RAILWAY.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading He opened it and took from her three or four letters.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading At last, when his coat was on, he walked two or three times up and down the room, frowning, smiling for an instant, frowning long again.
tiresomenessnoun
dullness owing to length or slowness
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He opened it and took from her three or four letters.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading At last, when his coat was on, he walked two or three times up and down the room, frowning, smiling for an instant, frowning long again.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading At last, when his coat was on, he walked two or three times up and down the room, frowning, smiling for an instant, frowning long again.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading At last, when his coat was on, he walked two or three times up and down the room, frowning, smiling for an instant, frowning long again.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Willie Ruston was half-dressed when the chamber-maid knocked at his door.
at the time that
From this reading Willie Ruston was half-dressed when the chamber-maid knocked at his door.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
Willie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie Ruston was half-dressed when the chamber-maid knocked at his door.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Laying them on the table he finished his dressing--with him a quick process, devoid of the pleasant lounging by which many men cheat its daily tiresomeness.
