used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CABLE FROM EUROPE Dinner that night was a somewhat oppressive meal.
Adele
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Poor father," Adele whispered to me, "he would give a good many of his dollars not to be in this."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was a sense of some hidden excitement, which formed an uneasy background to the spasmodic general conversation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The men especially seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The men especially seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading There was a sense of some hidden excitement, which formed an uneasy background to the spasmodic general conversation.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Poor father," Adele whispered to me, "he would give a good many of his dollars not to be in this."
cause to be bored
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
CABLEnounUS /ˈkeɪbəl/
a telegram sent abroad
From this reading A CABLE FROM EUROPE Dinner that night was a somewhat oppressive meal.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading There was a sense of some hidden excitement, which formed an uneasy background to the spasmodic general conversation.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading A CABLE FROM EUROPE Dinner that night was a somewhat oppressive meal.
plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
From this reading "Poor father," Adele whispered to me, "he would give a good many of his dollars not to be in this."
move gently or carefully
From this reading The men especially seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading The men especially seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles
From this reading A CABLE FROM EUROPE Dinner that night was a somewhat oppressive meal.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading There was a sense of some hidden excitement, which formed an uneasy background to the spasmodic general conversation.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "Poor father," Adele whispered to me, "he would give a good many of his dollars not to be in this."
having or given a form or shape
From this reading There was a sense of some hidden excitement, which formed an uneasy background to the spasmodic general conversation.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A CABLE FROM EUROPE Dinner that night was a somewhat oppressive meal.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading There was a sense of some hidden excitement, which formed an uneasy background to the spasmodic general conversation.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "Poor father," Adele whispered to me, "he would give a good many of his dollars not to be in this."
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "Poor father," Adele whispered to me, "he would give a good many of his dollars not to be in this."
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Poor father," Adele whispered to me, "he would give a good many of his dollars not to be in this."
not accessible to view
From this reading There was a sense of some hidden excitement, which formed an uneasy background to the spasmodic general conversation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Poor father," Adele whispered to me, "he would give a good many of his dollars not to be in this."
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading The men especially seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Poor father," Adele whispered to me, "he would give a good many of his dollars not to be in this."
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
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 "Poor father," Adele whispered to me, "he would give a good many of his dollars not to be in this."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading A CABLE FROM EUROPE Dinner that night was a somewhat oppressive meal.
the force of workers available
From this reading The men especially seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A CABLE FROM EUROPE Dinner that night was a somewhat oppressive meal.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Poor father," Adele whispered to me, "he would give a good many of his dollars not to be in this."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
oppressiveadjectiveUS /əˈpresɪv/
weighing heavily on the senses or spirit
From this reading A CABLE FROM EUROPE Dinner that night was a somewhat oppressive meal.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading "Poor father," Adele whispered to me, "he would give a good many of his dollars not to be in this."
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The men especially seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading There was a sense of some hidden excitement, which formed an uneasy background to the spasmodic general conversation.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading A CABLE FROM EUROPE Dinner that night was a somewhat oppressive meal.
spasmodicadjectiveUS /spæzˈmɔːdɪk/
affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm
From this reading There was a sense of some hidden excitement, which formed an uneasy background to the spasmodic general conversation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A CABLE FROM EUROPE Dinner that night was a somewhat oppressive meal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a sense of some hidden excitement, which formed an uneasy background to the spasmodic general conversation.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a sense of some hidden excitement, which formed an uneasy background to the spasmodic general conversation.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Poor father," Adele whispered to me, "he would give a good many of his dollars not to be in this."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading The men especially seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease.
lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading There was a sense of some hidden excitement, which formed an uneasy background to the spasmodic general conversation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A CABLE FROM EUROPE Dinner that night was a somewhat oppressive meal.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading "Poor father," Adele whispered to me, "he would give a good many of his dollars not to be in this."
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Several new guests had arrived, some of whom bore names which were well known to me.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Poor father," Adele whispered to me, "he would give a good many of his dollars not to be in this."
