used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Spurrier entered the smoke room and stood for a moment in its threshold.
acquaintancesnounUS /əˈkweɪntənsɪz/
plural of “acquaintance” — personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
alcovenounUS /ˈælkoʊv/
a small recess opening off a larger room
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Spurrier entered the smoke room and stood for a moment in its threshold.
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
a youthful male person
From this reading "Spurrier, my boy," he exclaimed cordially, "I'm glad to see you.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
cordiallyadverbUS /ˈkɔːrdʒəli/
in a hearty manner
From this reading "Spurrier, my boy," he exclaimed cordially, "I'm glad to see you.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
embarrassmentnounUS /ɪmˈberəsmənt/
the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Spurrier entered the smoke room and stood for a moment in its threshold.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Spurrier, my boy," he exclaimed cordially, "I'm glad to see you.
the organ of sight
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Spurrier entered the smoke room and stood for a moment in its threshold.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
a man of refinement
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading "Spurrier, my boy," he exclaimed cordially, "I'm glad to see you.
groomedadjectiveUS /ɡruːmd/
neat and smart in appearance; well cared for
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
guisenounUS /ɡaɪz/
an artful or simulated semblance
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I read your name on the list.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Spurrier, my boy," he exclaimed cordially, "I'm glad to see you.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Spurrier entered the smoke room and stood for a moment in its threshold.
indubitablyadverb
in a manner or to a degree that could not be doubted
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Spurrier entered the smoke room and stood for a moment in its threshold.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of
From this reading I read your name on the list.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
the force of workers available
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
a particular point in time
From this reading Spurrier entered the smoke room and stood for a moment in its threshold.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Spurrier, my boy," he exclaimed cordially, "I'm glad to see you.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I read your name on the list.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I read your name on the list.
other-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading I read your name on the list.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Spurrier entered the smoke room and stood for a moment in its threshold.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Spurrier, my boy," he exclaimed cordially, "I'm glad to see you.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Spurrier entered the smoke room and stood for a moment in its threshold.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
Spurrier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spurrier entered the smoke room and stood for a moment in its threshold.
stockyadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːki/
having a short and solid form or stature
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Spurrier entered the smoke room and stood for a moment in its threshold.
tearingnounUS /ˈterɪŋ/
shedding tears
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Spurrier entered the smoke room and stood for a moment in its threshold.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading Spurrier entered the smoke room and stood for a moment in its threshold.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Spurrier, my boy," he exclaimed cordially, "I'm glad to see you.
uniformsnounUS /ˈjuːnəfɔːrmz/
plural of “uniform” — clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a particular group as a means of identification
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
(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 But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
which person or people
From this reading But from an alcove seat near the door rose a stocky gentleman, well groomed and indubitably distinguished of guise, who had been tearing the covering from a bridge deck.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There were uniforms there, and some men in them whom he had known, though now these other-time acquaintances avoided his eye and the necessity of an embarrassment which must have come from meeting it.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Spurrier, my boy," he exclaimed cordially, "I'm glad to see you.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I read your name on the list.
