used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
matters of personal concern
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Stephen Somerfield stared at it, his weak good-looking face drawn into lines of hopeless disgust.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
billsnounUS /bɪlz/
plural of “bill” — a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
deucenounUS /duːs/
a tie in tennis or table tennis that requires winning two successive points to win the game
From this reading "It's a deuce of a mess!"
disgustverbUS /dɪsˈɡʌst/
fill with distaste
From this reading Stephen Somerfield stared at it, his weak good-looking face drawn into lines of hopeless disgust.
dismaynounUS /dɪˈsmeɪ/
the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Stephen Somerfield stared at it, his weak good-looking face drawn into lines of hopeless disgust.
dressing-gown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Stephen Somerfield stared at it, his weak good-looking face drawn into lines of hopeless disgust.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
depressingly dark
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
good-lookingadjectiveUS /ˈɡʊdlʊkɪŋ/
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading Stephen Somerfield stared at it, his weak good-looking face drawn into lines of hopeless disgust.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading Stephen Somerfield stared at it, his weak good-looking face drawn into lines of hopeless disgust.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Stephen Somerfield stared at it, his weak good-looking face drawn into lines of hopeless disgust.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Stephen Somerfield stared at it, his weak good-looking face drawn into lines of hopeless disgust.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's a deuce of a mess!"
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Stephen Somerfield stared at it, his weak good-looking face drawn into lines of hopeless disgust.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
messnounUS /mes/
a state of confusion and disorderliness
From this reading "It's a deuce of a mess!"
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
pilesnounUS /paɪlz/
venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
PrimrosenounUS /ˈprɪmroʊz/
any of numerous short-stemmed plants of the genus Primula having tufted basal leaves and showy flowers clustered in umbels or heads
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
skiesnounUS /skaɪz/
plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So he summed it up.
Somerfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen Somerfield stared at it, his weak good-looking face drawn into lines of hopeless disgust.
sortedadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːrtɪd/
arranged according to size
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Stephen Somerfield stared at it, his weak good-looking face drawn into lines of hopeless disgust.
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading Stephen Somerfield stared at it, his weak good-looking face drawn into lines of hopeless disgust.
summedverbUS /sʌmd/
inflected form of “sum” — be a summary of
From this reading So he summed it up.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
unpaidadjectiveUS /ənˈpeɪd/
not paid
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading So he summed it up.
wanting in physical strength
From this reading Stephen Somerfield stared at it, his weak good-looking face drawn into lines of hopeless disgust.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
writnounUS /rɪt/
(law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer
From this reading He sat in a shabby dressing-gown before a table covered with papers, sorted now in grim piles of unpaid bills, reading a writ.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Meanwhile, under grey skies, in a gloomy room near Primrose Hill, another young man faced (with dismay) a definite tide in his affairs.
