used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A fire was burning in the grate, however, and on a table in the corner, which was littered with papers, stood a dispatch box.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading My ears were strained for any sound that might betray Francis' presence in the garden.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Clubfoot wore a dinner-coat and, as he laughed, his white expanse of shirt-front heaved to the shaking of his deep chest.
betrayverbUS /bɪˈtreɪ/
reveal unintentionally
From this reading My ears were strained for any sound that might betray Francis' presence in the garden.
billiard-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading A fire was burning in the grate, however, and on a table in the corner, which was littered with papers, stood a dispatch box.
BrowningnounUS /ˈbraʊnɪŋ/
United States inventor of firearms (especially automatic pistols and repeating rifles and a machine gun called the Peacemaker) (1855-1926)
From this reading For a moment, however, I had little thought of him or the ugly-looking Browning he held in his fist.
the act of burning something
From this reading A fire was burning in the grate, however, and on a table in the corner, which was littered with papers, stood a dispatch box.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading Clubfoot wore a dinner-coat and, as he laughed, his white expanse of shirt-front heaved to the shaking of his deep chest.
Clubfootnoun
congenital deformity of the foot usually marked by a curled shape or twisted position of the ankle and heel and toes
From this reading Clubfoot wore a dinner-coat and, as he laughed, his white expanse of shirt-front heaved to the shaking of his deep chest.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading A fire was burning in the grate, however, and on a table in the corner, which was littered with papers, stood a dispatch box.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Clubfoot wore a dinner-coat and, as he laughed, his white expanse of shirt-front heaved to the shaking of his deep chest.
dinner-coat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clubfoot wore a dinner-coat and, as he laughed, his white expanse of shirt-front heaved to the shaking of his deep chest.
dispatchverbUS /dɪˈspætʃ/
send away towards a designated goal
From this reading A fire was burning in the grate, however, and on a table in the corner, which was littered with papers, stood a dispatch box.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading My ears were strained for any sound that might betray Francis' presence in the garden.
expansenounUS /ɪkˈspæns/
a wide scope
From this reading Clubfoot wore a dinner-coat and, as he laughed, his white expanse of shirt-front heaved to the shaking of his deep chest.
start firing a weapon
From this reading A fire was burning in the grate, however, and on a table in the corner, which was littered with papers, stood a dispatch box.
fistnounUS /fɪst/
a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading For a moment, however, I had little thought of him or the ugly-looking Browning he held in his fist.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
Francis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My ears were strained for any sound that might betray Francis' presence in the garden.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading My ears were strained for any sound that might betray Francis' presence in the garden.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading A fire was burning in the grate, however, and on a table in the corner, which was littered with papers, stood a dispatch box.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For a moment, however, I had little thought of him or the ugly-looking Browning he held in his fist.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Clubfoot wore a dinner-coat and, as he laughed, his white expanse of shirt-front heaved to the shaking of his deep chest.
heavedverbUS /hiːvd/
past form of “heave” — utter a sound, as with obvious effort
From this reading Clubfoot wore a dinner-coat and, as he laughed, his white expanse of shirt-front heaved to the shaking of his deep chest.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading For a moment, however, I had little thought of him or the ugly-looking Browning he held in his fist.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For a moment, however, I had little thought of him or the ugly-looking Browning he held in his fist.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Clubfoot wore a dinner-coat and, as he laughed, his white expanse of shirt-front heaved to the shaking of his deep chest.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading A fire was burning in the grate, however, and on a table in the corner, which was littered with papers, stood a dispatch box.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading Clubfoot wore a dinner-coat and, as he laughed, his white expanse of shirt-front heaved to the shaking of his deep chest.
litteredadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtərd/
filled or scattered with a disorderly accumulation of objects or rubbish
From this reading A fire was burning in the grate, however, and on a table in the corner, which was littered with papers, stood a dispatch box.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading My ears were strained for any sound that might betray Francis' presence in the garden.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment, however, I had little thought of him or the ugly-looking Browning he held in his fist.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My ears were strained for any sound that might betray Francis' presence in the garden.
obviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For a moment, however, I had little thought of him or the ugly-looking Browning he held in his fist.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading A fire was burning in the grate, however, and on a table in the corner, which was littered with papers, stood a dispatch box.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading My ears were strained for any sound that might betray Francis' presence in the garden.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading Clubfoot wore a dinner-coat and, as he laughed, his white expanse of shirt-front heaved to the shaking of his deep chest.
shirt-front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clubfoot wore a dinner-coat and, as he laughed, his white expanse of shirt-front heaved to the shaking of his deep chest.
smeltnounUS /smelt/
small cold-water silvery fish; migrate between salt and fresh water
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading My ears were strained for any sound that might betray Francis' presence in the garden.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A fire was burning in the grate, however, and on a table in the corner, which was littered with papers, stood a dispatch box.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading My ears were strained for any sound that might betray Francis' presence in the garden.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading A fire was burning in the grate, however, and on a table in the corner, which was littered with papers, stood a dispatch box.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading My ears were strained for any sound that might betray Francis' presence in the garden.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading For a moment, however, I had little thought of him or the ugly-looking Browning he held in his fist.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Clubfoot wore a dinner-coat and, as he laughed, his white expanse of shirt-front heaved to the shaking of his deep chest.
ugly-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, however, I had little thought of him or the ugly-looking Browning he held in his fist.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading My ears were strained for any sound that might betray Francis' presence in the garden.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A fire was burning in the grate, however, and on a table in the corner, which was littered with papers, stood a dispatch box.
a Caucasian
From this reading Clubfoot wore a dinner-coat and, as he laughed, his white expanse of shirt-front heaved to the shaking of his deep chest.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I GO ON WITH THE STORY I was in the billiard-room of the Castle, a dusty place, obviously little used, for it smelt of damp.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading Clubfoot wore a dinner-coat and, as he laughed, his white expanse of shirt-front heaved to the shaking of his deep chest.
