used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
acquaintancesnounUS /əˈkweɪntənsɪz/
plural of “acquaintance” — personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.
(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 Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
AMBASSADORnounUS /æmˈbæsədər/
a diplomat of the highest rank; accredited as representative from one country to another
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
of short duration or distance
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.
host'snounUS /hoʊsts/
possessive form of “host” — a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/
plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
interspersedverbUS /ˌɪntərˈspɜːrst/
past form of “intersperse” — place at intervals in or among
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.
languishverbUS /ˈlæŋɡwɪʃ/
lose vigor, health, or flesh, as through grief
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
immediately past
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
the force of workers available
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
ObviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
pavedadjectiveUS /peɪvd/
covered with a firm surface
From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.
periodsnounUS /ˈpɪriədz/
plural of “period” — an amount of time
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
express in words
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
spasmodicadjectiveUS /spæzˈmɔːdɪk/
affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
VinenounUS /vaɪn/
a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
which person or people
From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
