used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading CHAPTER THE LAST "You are all absolutely wrong."
(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 CHAPTER THE LAST "You are all absolutely wrong."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading CHAPTER THE LAST "You are all absolutely wrong."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
a long seat for more than one person
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading CHAPTER THE LAST "You are all absolutely wrong."
confraternity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading He would throw himself on the mercy of the court.
createverbUS /kriˈeɪt/
make or cause to be or to become
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
defencelessadjective
lacking protection or support
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
defendverbUS /dɪˈfend/
argue or speak in defense of
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
Delyse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Julia Delyse was speaking.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He would throw himself on the mercy of the court.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
Julia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Julia Delyse was speaking.
immediately past
From this reading CHAPTER THE LAST "You are all absolutely wrong."
engage in
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading He would throw himself on the mercy of the court.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
mumchance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He would throw himself on the mercy of the court.
and nothing more
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
Pettigrew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
SimonnounUS /ˈsaɪmən/
one of the twelve Apostles (first century)
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been sitting mumchance at a general meeting of the Pettigrew confraternity held half an hour before Bench in a sitting-room of the Rose Hotel.
solicitornounUS /səˈlɪsətər/
a petitioner who solicits contributions or trade or votes
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading Julia Delyse was speaking.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CHAPTER THE LAST "You are all absolutely wrong."
propel through the air
From this reading He would throw himself on the mercy of the court.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
vetoedverbUS /ˈviːtoʊd/
past form of “veto” — vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Julia Delyse was speaking.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Simon had vetoed the idea of a solicitor to defend him--it would only create more talk, and from what he could make out his case was defenceless.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading CHAPTER THE LAST "You are all absolutely wrong."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading CHAPTER THE LAST "You are all absolutely wrong."
