used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
alternativeadjectiveUS /ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪv/
serving or used in place of another
From this reading Yet what alternative had he?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
appearancesnounUS /əˈpɪrənsəz/
plural of “appearance” — outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
take in solid food
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
start firing a weapon
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Yet what alternative had he?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Never," he thought.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Never in this world."
Janet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "Never," he thought.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
cut with a saw
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Never in this world."
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "Never," he thought.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading After dinner (he had tried to eat to keep up appearances before Janet) he drew to the fire and tried to think things out.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Yet what alternative had he?
at the time that
From this reading He had sat long hours in pain, and the fire had died down, when a kind of melancholy peace came to him and he thought he saw what he had to do.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading "Never in this world."
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet what alternative had he?
