used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When once more the pressure had abated, and the telephone had ceased to ring, he leaned back in his chair with a little exclamation of relief.
abatedverbUS /əˈbeɪtɪd/
past form of “abate” — make less active or intense
From this reading When once more the pressure had abated, and the telephone had ceased to ring, he leaned back in his chair with a little exclamation of relief.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The telephone was reconnected, and rang out its impatient summons every few seconds.
answeringadjectiveUS /ˈænsərɪŋ/
replying
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading The visit of Rowan's sister, and her passionate appeal, had unnerved him for a moment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading When once more the pressure had abated, and the telephone had ceased to ring, he leaned back in his chair with a little exclamation of relief.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading When once more the pressure had abated, and the telephone had ceased to ring, he leaned back in his chair with a little exclamation of relief.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
Deane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
deputed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
dictatedadjectiveUS /dɪkˈteɪtɪd/
determined or decided upon as by an authority
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
draftsnounUS /dræfts/
plural of “draft” — a document ordering the payment of money; drawn by one person or bank on another
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The telephone was reconnected, and rang out its impatient summons every few seconds.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading When once more the pressure had abated, and the telephone had ceased to ring, he leaned back in his chair with a little exclamation of relief.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The telephone was reconnected, and rang out its impatient summons every few seconds.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The visit of Rowan's sister, and her passionate appeal, had unnerved him for a moment.
the act of giving
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
half-a-dozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The visit of Rowan's sister, and her passionate appeal, had unnerved him for a moment.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The visit of Rowan's sister, and her passionate appeal, had unnerved him for a moment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading The telephone was reconnected, and rang out its impatient summons every few seconds.
of great significance or value
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The telephone was reconnected, and rang out its impatient summons every few seconds.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading When once more the pressure had abated, and the telephone had ceased to ring, he leaned back in his chair with a little exclamation of relief.
the literary culture
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When once more the pressure had abated, and the telephone had ceased to ring, he leaned back in his chair with a little exclamation of relief.
a particular point in time
From this reading The visit of Rowan's sister, and her passionate appeal, had unnerved him for a moment.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
offersnounUS /ˈɔːfərz/
plural of “offer” — the verbal act of offering
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
on one occasion
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The telephone was reconnected, and rang out its impatient summons every few seconds.
having or expressing strong emotions
From this reading The visit of Rowan's sister, and her passionate appeal, had unnerved him for a moment.
pressurenounUS /ˈpreʃər/
the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)
From this reading When once more the pressure had abated, and the telephone had ceased to ring, he leaned back in his chair with a little exclamation of relief.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
quotationsnounUS /kwoʊˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “quotation” — a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The telephone was reconnected, and rang out its impatient summons every few seconds.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
receivingverbUS /rəˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
reconnected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The telephone was reconnected, and rang out its impatient summons every few seconds.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading When once more the pressure had abated, and the telephone had ceased to ring, he leaned back in his chair with a little exclamation of relief.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading When once more the pressure had abated, and the telephone had ceased to ring, he leaned back in his chair with a little exclamation of relief.
Rowan'snounUS /ˈroʊənz/
possessive form of “rowan” — Eurasian tree with orange-red berrylike fruits
From this reading The visit of Rowan's sister, and her passionate appeal, had unnerved him for a moment.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The telephone was reconnected, and rang out its impatient summons every few seconds.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
signedadjectiveUS /saɪnd/
having a handwritten signature
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading The visit of Rowan's sister, and her passionate appeal, had unnerved him for a moment.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
a request to be present
From this reading The telephone was reconnected, and rang out its impatient summons every few seconds.
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 The telephone was reconnected, and rang out its impatient summons every few seconds.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
throesnounUS /θroʊz/
violent pangs of suffering
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
understudynounUS /ˈʌndərstʌdi/
an actor able to replace a regular performer when required
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
unnervedadjectiveUS /ənˈnɜːrvd/
deprived of courage and strength
From this reading The visit of Rowan's sister, and her passionate appeal, had unnerved him for a moment.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading The visit of Rowan's sister, and her passionate appeal, had unnerved him for a moment.
someone who visits
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
at the time that
From this reading AT THE THEATRE The door had barely closed upon his visitor when Deane was back once more in the throes of business, answering questions, giving quotations, receiving offers.
which person or people
From this reading He signed half-a-dozen drafts, deputed an understudy to receive some of his visitors who were weary of waiting, and dictated several important letters.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When once more the pressure had abated, and the telephone had ceased to ring, he leaned back in his chair with a little exclamation of relief.
