used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere, filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements.
having companions or an escort
From this reading At the private entrance to the courthouse arrived fashionably-dressed ladies accompanied by well-groomed men.
admissionnounUS /ædˈmɪʃən/
the act of admitting someone to enter
From this reading They had received cards of admission and had seats reserved for them in the body of the court.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The day fixed for the trial of Frederick Birchill was wet, dismal, and dreary.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading At the private entrance to the courthouse arrived fashionably-dressed ladies accompanied by well-groomed men.
assembledverbUS /əˈsembəld/
past form of “assemble” — create by putting components or members together
From this reading But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the private entrance to the courthouse arrived fashionably-dressed ladies accompanied by well-groomed men.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere, filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements.
BaileynounUS /ˈbeɪli/
United States singer (1918-1990)
From this reading But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
Birchill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day fixed for the trial of Frederick Birchill was wet, dismal, and dreary.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading They had received cards of admission and had seats reserved for them in the body of the court.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading At the private entrance to the courthouse arrived fashionably-dressed ladies accompanied by well-groomed men.
a game played with playing cards
From this reading They had received cards of admission and had seats reserved for them in the body of the court.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
not characterized by emotion
From this reading The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere, filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
courthousenounUS /ˈkɔːrthaʊs/
a government building that houses the offices of a county government
From this reading At the private entrance to the courthouse arrived fashionably-dressed ladies accompanied by well-groomed men.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The day fixed for the trial of Frederick Birchill was wet, dismal, and dreary.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading The day fixed for the trial of Frederick Birchill was wet, dismal, and dreary.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading The day fixed for the trial of Frederick Birchill was wet, dismal, and dreary.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading At the private entrance to the courthouse arrived fashionably-dressed ladies accompanied by well-groomed men.
fashionably-dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the private entrance to the courthouse arrived fashionably-dressed ladies accompanied by well-groomed men.
fillingnounUS /ˈfɪlɪŋ/
any material that fills a space or container
From this reading The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere, filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading The day fixed for the trial of Frederick Birchill was wet, dismal, and dreary.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The day fixed for the trial of Frederick Birchill was wet, dismal, and dreary.
FredericknounUS /ˈfredrɪk/
a town in northern Maryland to the west of Baltimore
From this reading The day fixed for the trial of Frederick Birchill was wet, dismal, and dreary.
guttersnounUS /ˈɡʌtərz/
plural of “gutter” — a channel along the eaves or on the roof; collects and carries away rainwater
From this reading The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere, filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had received cards of admission and had seats reserved for them in the body of the court.
hazyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪzi/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere, filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements.
to a considerable degree
From this reading The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere, filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
intermittentlyadverbUS /ˌɪntərˈmɪtəntli/
in an intermittent manner
From this reading The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere, filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading At the private entrance to the courthouse arrived fashionably-dressed ladies accompanied by well-groomed men.
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 But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
the force of workers available
From this reading At the private entrance to the courthouse arrived fashionably-dressed ladies accompanied by well-groomed men.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The day fixed for the trial of Frederick Birchill was wet, dismal, and dreary.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere, filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
pavementsnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənts/
plural of “pavement” — the paved surface of a thoroughfare
From this reading The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere, filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements.
peltedverbUS /ˈpeltɪd/
past form of “pelt” — cast, hurl, or throw repeatedly with some missile
From this reading The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere, filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements.
portalsnounUS /ˈpɔːrtəlz/
plural of “portal” — a grand and imposing entrance (often extended metaphorically)
From this reading But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
principallyadverbUS /ˈprɪnsɪpli/
for the most part
From this reading But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading At the private entrance to the courthouse arrived fashionably-dressed ladies accompanied by well-groomed men.
queuenounUS /kjuː/
a line of people or vehicles waiting for something
From this reading But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere, filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading They had received cards of admission and had seats reserved for them in the body of the court.
reservedadjectiveUS /rɪˈzɜːrvd/
set aside for the use of a particular person or party
From this reading They had received cards of admission and had seats reserved for them in the body of the court.
seatsnounUS /siːts/
an area that includes places where several people can sit
From this reading They had received cards of admission and had seats reserved for them in the body of the court.
slipperyadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpəri/
causing or tending to cause things to slip or slide
From this reading The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere, filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
splashingnounUS /ˈsplæʃɪŋ/
the act of splashing a (liquid) substance on a surface
From this reading The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere, filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The day fixed for the trial of Frederick Birchill was wet, dismal, and dreary.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They had received cards of admission and had seats reserved for them in the body of the court.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had received cards of admission and had seats reserved for them in the body of the court.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The rain pelted intermittently through a hazy, chilly atmosphere, filling the gutters and splashing heavily on the slippery pavements.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At the private entrance to the courthouse arrived fashionably-dressed ladies accompanied by well-groomed men.
the act of testing something
From this reading The day fixed for the trial of Frederick Birchill was wet, dismal, and dreary.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The day fixed for the trial of Frederick Birchill was wet, dismal, and dreary.
well-groomedadjective
having tasteful clothing and being scrupulously neat
From this reading At the private entrance to the courthouse arrived fashionably-dressed ladies accompanied by well-groomed men.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading The day fixed for the trial of Frederick Birchill was wet, dismal, and dreary.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading But in spite of the rain a long queue, principally of women, assembled outside the portals of the Old Bailey long before the time fixed for the opening of the court.
