used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
in actual fact
From this reading It was not until he had actually commenced his lunch that anything happened.
(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 A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
any thing at all
From this reading It was not until he had actually commenced his lunch that anything happened.
ArnoldnounUS /ˈɑːrnəld/
English poet and literary critic (1822-1888)
From this reading THE GLEAM OF STEEL At the Milan, Arnold found himself early for luncheon.
arrivingverbUS /ərˈaɪvɪŋ/
-ing form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then, through the half-open door, he heard what he recognized instantly as a familiar voice.
associateverbUS /əˈsoʊsiət/
make a logical or causal connection
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE GLEAM OF STEEL At the Milan, Arnold found himself early for luncheon.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
commencedverbUS /kəˈmenst/
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
commissionnounUS /kəˈmɪʃən/
a special group delegated to consider some matter
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Then, through the half-open door, he heard what he recognized instantly as a familiar voice.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading THE GLEAM OF STEEL At the Milan, Arnold found himself early for luncheon.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading Then, through the half-open door, he heard what he recognized instantly as a familiar voice.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE GLEAM OF STEEL At the Milan, Arnold found himself early for luncheon.
set up or found
From this reading THE GLEAM OF STEEL At the Milan, Arnold found himself early for luncheon.
GLEAMverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading THE GLEAM OF STEEL At the Milan, Arnold found himself early for luncheon.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was not until he had actually commenced his lunch that anything happened.
half-hournounUS /ˈhæfaʊər/
a half of an hour
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
half-open
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, through the half-open door, he heard what he recognized instantly as a familiar voice.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading It was not until he had actually commenced his lunch that anything happened.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Then, through the half-open door, he heard what he recognized instantly as a familiar voice.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading THE GLEAM OF STEEL At the Milan, Arnold found himself early for luncheon.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Then, through the half-open door, he heard what he recognized instantly as a familiar voice.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not until he had actually commenced his lunch that anything happened.
take the midday meal
From this reading It was not until he had actually commenced his lunch that anything happened.
luncheonnounUS /ˈlʌntʃən/
a midday meal
From this reading THE GLEAM OF STEEL At the Milan, Arnold found himself early for luncheon.
MilannounUS /məˈlɑːn/
the capital of Lombardy in northern Italy; has been an international center of trade and industry since the Middle Ages
From this reading THE GLEAM OF STEEL At the Milan, Arnold found himself early for luncheon.
not any; not one
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not until he had actually commenced his lunch that anything happened.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE GLEAM OF STEEL At the Milan, Arnold found himself early for luncheon.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Then, through the half-open door, he heard what he recognized instantly as a familiar voice.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading THE GLEAM OF STEEL At the Milan, Arnold found himself early for luncheon.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was not until he had actually commenced his lunch that anything happened.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GLEAM OF STEEL At the Milan, Arnold found himself early for luncheon.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, through the half-open door, he heard what he recognized instantly as a familiar voice.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Then, through the half-open door, he heard what he recognized instantly as a familiar voice.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It was not until he had actually commenced his lunch that anything happened.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Then, through the half-open door, he heard what he recognized instantly as a familiar voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
look attentively
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Then, through the half-open door, he heard what he recognized instantly as a familiar voice.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A thin stream of people was all the time arriving, but for the first half-hour there was no one whom he could associate in any way with his commission.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He chose a table quite close to the entrance, ordered his luncheon with some care, and commenced his watch.
