used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And if there is one thing I cannot stand it is dirt.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I could easily believe that no one had lived in it for twenty years; it was pretty plain that the windows had not been cleaned for quite as long as that.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading I could easily believe that no one had lived in it for twenty years; it was pretty plain that the windows had not been cleaned for quite as long as that.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Not that it was particularly small; there were three storeys; but it looked so dirty.
cabmannoun
someone who drives a taxi for a living
From this reading It was Mr. Paine who settled with the cabman.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if there is one thing I cannot stand it is dirt.
cleanedverbUS /kliːnd/
past form of “clean” — make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from
From this reading I could easily believe that no one had lived in it for twenty years; it was pretty plain that the windows had not been cleaned for quite as long as that.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could easily believe that no one had lived in it for twenty years; it was pretty plain that the windows had not been cleaned for quite as long as that.
dirtnounUS /dɜːrt/
the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock
From this reading And if there is one thing I cannot stand it is dirt.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading Not that it was particularly small; there were three storeys; but it looked so dirty.
disreputable-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading I could easily believe that no one had lived in it for twenty years; it was pretty plain that the windows had not been cleaned for quite as long as that.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I could easily believe that no one had lived in it for twenty years; it was pretty plain that the windows had not been cleaned for quite as long as that.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading And if there is one thing I cannot stand it is dirt.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And if there is one thing I cannot stand it is dirt.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And if there is one thing I cannot stand it is dirt.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Mr. Paine who settled with the cabman.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading I could easily believe that no one had lived in it for twenty years; it was pretty plain that the windows had not been cleaned for quite as long as that.
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 I could easily believe that no one had lived in it for twenty years; it was pretty plain that the windows had not been cleaned for quite as long as that.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Not that it was particularly small; there were three storeys; but it looked so dirty.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
a form of address for a man
From this reading It was Mr. Paine who settled with the cabman.
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
not any; not one
From this reading I could easily believe that no one had lived in it for twenty years; it was pretty plain that the windows had not been cleaned for quite as long as that.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And if there is one thing I cannot stand it is dirt.
over-savoury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
PainenounUS /peɪn/
American Revolutionary leader and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1731-1814)
From this reading It was Mr. Paine who settled with the cabman.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Not that it was particularly small; there were three storeys; but it looked so dirty.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading I could easily believe that no one had lived in it for twenty years; it was pretty plain that the windows had not been cleaned for quite as long as that.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading I could easily believe that no one had lived in it for twenty years; it was pretty plain that the windows had not been cleaned for quite as long as that.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading I could easily believe that no one had lived in it for twenty years; it was pretty plain that the windows had not been cleaned for quite as long as that.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading It was Mr. Paine who settled with the cabman.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Not that it was particularly small; there were three storeys; but it looked so dirty.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Not that it was particularly small; there were three storeys; but it looked so dirty.
be standing; be upright
From this reading And if there is one thing I cannot stand it is dirt.
storeys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not that it was particularly small; there were three storeys; but it looked so dirty.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was Mr. Paine who settled with the cabman.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Not that it was particularly small; there were three storeys; but it looked so dirty.
a special situation
From this reading And if there is one thing I cannot stand it is dirt.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Not that it was particularly small; there were three storeys; but it looked so dirty.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading I could easily believe that no one had lived in it for twenty years; it was pretty plain that the windows had not been cleaned for quite as long as that.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Mr. Paine who settled with the cabman.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It had not struck me that we had been passing through an over-savoury neighbourhood; we drew up in front of a perfectly disreputable-looking house.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Not that it was particularly small; there were three storeys; but it looked so dirty.
which person or people
From this reading It was Mr. Paine who settled with the cabman.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading I could easily believe that no one had lived in it for twenty years; it was pretty plain that the windows had not been cleaned for quite as long as that.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was Mr. Paine who settled with the cabman.
a late time of life
From this reading I could easily believe that no one had lived in it for twenty years; it was pretty plain that the windows had not been cleaned for quite as long as that.
