used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "We may have to wait a little while," the old gentleman explained, in his languid way.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He is sometimes, for he is a little careless about such things--more careless, I know, than I used to be in my courting-days."
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was dusk and supper was almost ready.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Mary is looking for company, I understand, and he may be slow getting here.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful
From this reading He is sometimes, for he is a little careless about such things--more careless, I know, than I used to be in my courting-days."
Charles'snounUS /ˈtʃɑːrlzɪz/
possessive form of “charles” — King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading "Mary is looking for company, I understand, and he may be slow getting here.
courting-days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He is sometimes, for he is a little careless about such things--more careless, I know, than I used to be in my courting-days."
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading It was dusk and supper was almost ready.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "We may have to wait a little while," the old gentleman explained, in his languid way.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Mary is looking for company, I understand, and he may be slow getting here.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
a man of refinement
From this reading "We may have to wait a little while," the old gentleman explained, in his languid way.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading "Mary is looking for company, I understand, and he may be slow getting here.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "We may have to wait a little while," the old gentleman explained, in his languid way.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Mary is looking for company, I understand, and he may be slow getting here.
hiding-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "We may have to wait a little while," the old gentleman explained, in his languid way.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Mary is looking for company, I understand, and he may be slow getting here.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "We may have to wait a little while," the old gentleman explained, in his languid way.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Mary is looking for company, I understand, and he may be slow getting here.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was dusk and supper was almost ready.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He is sometimes, for he is a little careless about such things--more careless, I know, than I used to be in my courting-days."
languidadjectiveUS /ˈlæŋɡwəd/
lacking spirit or liveliness
From this reading "We may have to wait a little while," the old gentleman explained, in his languid way.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "We may have to wait a little while," the old gentleman explained, in his languid way.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "Mary is looking for company, I understand, and he may be slow getting here.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "We may have to wait a little while," the old gentleman explained, in his languid way.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He is sometimes, for he is a little careless about such things--more careless, I know, than I used to be in my courting-days."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading He is sometimes, for he is a little careless about such things--more careless, I know, than I used to be in my courting-days."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "We may have to wait a little while," the old gentleman explained, in his languid way.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading It was dusk and supper was almost ready.
Rowland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading "Mary is looking for company, I understand, and he may be slow getting here.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading He is sometimes, for he is a little careless about such things--more careless, I know, than I used to be in my courting-days."
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He is sometimes, for he is a little careless about such things--more careless, I know, than I used to be in my courting-days."
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading It was dusk and supper was almost ready.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He is sometimes, for he is a little careless about such things--more careless, I know, than I used to be in my courting-days."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He is sometimes, for he is a little careless about such things--more careless, I know, than I used to be in my courting-days."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading "Mary is looking for company, I understand, and he may be slow getting here.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading He is sometimes, for he is a little careless about such things--more careless, I know, than I used to be in my courting-days."
verandanounUS /vərˈændə/
a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading "We may have to wait a little while," the old gentleman explained, in his languid way.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was dusk and supper was almost ready.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "We may have to wait a little while," the old gentleman explained, in his languid way.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We may have to wait a little while," the old gentleman explained, in his languid way.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading "We may have to wait a little while," the old gentleman explained, in his languid way.
in the company of; together with
From this reading One evening, several days after Charles's trip with Mary to the hiding-place of the two boys, he and Rowland sat on the front veranda.
