used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Mr. Polly sat up after an interval of an indeterminate length among the ruins of an idyllic afternoon.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Mr. Polly sat up after an interval of an indeterminate length among the ruins of an idyllic afternoon.
(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 Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Mr. Polly sat up after an interval of an indeterminate length among the ruins of an idyllic afternoon.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mr. Polly sat up after an interval of an indeterminate length among the ruins of an idyllic afternoon.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading He became aware of a voice, speaking slowly and complainingly.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading He became aware of a voice, speaking slowly and complainingly.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He stared between the legs of people.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
complaininglyadverb
with complaints
From this reading He became aware of a voice, speaking slowly and complainingly.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "Someone ought to pay for those tea things," said the father in mourning.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Someone ought to pay for those tea things," said the father in mourning.
hold firmly
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stared between the legs of people.
idyllicadjectiveUS /aɪˈdɪlɪk/
excellent and delightful in all respects
From this reading Mr. Polly sat up after an interval of an indeterminate length among the ruins of an idyllic afternoon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Someone ought to pay for those tea things," said the father in mourning.
indeterminateadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈtɜːrmɪnɪt/
not precisely determined or established; not fixed or known in advance
From this reading Mr. Polly sat up after an interval of an indeterminate length among the ruins of an idyllic afternoon.
intervalnounUS /ˈɪntərvəl/
a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading Mr. Polly sat up after an interval of an indeterminate length among the ruins of an idyllic afternoon.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
staying power
From this reading He stared between the legs of people.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading Mr. Polly sat up after an interval of an indeterminate length among the ruins of an idyllic afternoon.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
mourningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
From this reading "Someone ought to pay for those tea things," said the father in mourning.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Polly sat up after an interval of an indeterminate length among the ruins of an idyllic afternoon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Polly sat up after an interval of an indeterminate length among the ruins of an idyllic afternoon.
on one occasion
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading "Someone ought to pay for those tea things," said the father in mourning.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading "Someone ought to pay for those tea things," said the father in mourning.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading He stared between the legs of people.
Polly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Polly sat up after an interval of an indeterminate length among the ruins of an idyllic afternoon.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
ruinsnounUS /ˈruːənz/
plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading Mr. Polly sat up after an interval of an indeterminate length among the ruins of an idyllic afternoon.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Someone ought to pay for those tea things," said the father in mourning.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Mr. Polly sat up after an interval of an indeterminate length among the ruins of an idyllic afternoon.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading He became aware of a voice, speaking slowly and complainingly.
a person, without saying who
From this reading "Someone ought to pay for those tea things," said the father in mourning.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading He became aware of a voice, speaking slowly and complainingly.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading He stared between the legs of people.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading "Someone ought to pay for those tea things," said the father in mourning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. Polly sat up after an interval of an indeterminate length among the ruins of an idyllic afternoon.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "Someone ought to pay for those tea things," said the father in mourning.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Mr. Polly sat up after an interval of an indeterminate length among the ruins of an idyllic afternoon.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He became aware of a voice, speaking slowly and complainingly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Quite a lot of things seemed scattered and broken, but it was difficult to grasp it all at once.
