used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On a summer afternoon two surly men sat together in a London lodging.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading On a summer afternoon two surly men sat together in a London lodging.
how long something has existed
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Of a sudden the man in the chair jumped up.
cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/
finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
correctingverbUS /kərˈektɪŋ/
-ing form of “correct” — make right or correct
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
easy-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
exercisesnounUS /ˈeksərsaɪzəz/
plural of “exercise” — the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For half an hour they had not spoken.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading For half an hour they had not spoken.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading For half an hour they had not spoken.
idlernounUS /ˈaɪdələr/
person who does no work
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On a summer afternoon two surly men sat together in a London lodging.
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Of a sudden the man in the chair jumped up.
labouredadjective
lacking natural ease
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
lodgingnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪŋ/
structures collectively in which people are housed
From this reading On a summer afternoon two surly men sat together in a London lodging.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading On a summer afternoon two surly men sat together in a London lodging.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
the force of workers available
From this reading On a summer afternoon two surly men sat together in a London lodging.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
neglectedadjectiveUS /nəˈɡlektəd/
disregarded
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For half an hour they had not spoken.
held or filled or in use
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On a summer afternoon two surly men sat together in a London lodging.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading On a summer afternoon two surly men sat together in a London lodging.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
seedyadjectiveUS /ˈsiːdi/
full of seeds
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
smokedadjectiveUS /smoʊkt/
(used especially of meats and fish) dried and cured by hanging in wood smoke
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading For half an hour they had not spoken.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Of a sudden the man in the chair jumped up.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading On a summer afternoon two surly men sat together in a London lodging.
surlyadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrli/
inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace
From this reading On a summer afternoon two surly men sat together in a London lodging.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading On a summer afternoon two surly men sat together in a London lodging.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading On a summer afternoon two surly men sat together in a London lodging.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Of a sudden the man in the chair jumped up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
(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 They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
whereasconjunctionUS /weˈræz/
in contrast with the fact that
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
which person or people
From this reading They were much of an age, and that about thirty, but whereas the idler was well dressed, his companion had a seedy appearance and looked altogether like a man who neglected himself.
in the company of; together with
From this reading One of them occupied an easy-chair, smoked a cigarette, and read the newspaper; the other was seated at the table, with a mass of papers before him, on which he laboured as though correcting exercises.
