used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
(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 Then they all rose and returned the salute.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading He did not speak first as he would have done on another occasion.
appearingnounUS /əˈpɪrɪŋ/
formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in an action
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
armchairnounUS /ˈɑːrmtʃer/
chair with a support on each side for arms
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He did not speak first as he would have done on another occasion.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
Balsamo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
culpritnounUS /ˈkʌlprɪt/
someone who perpetrates wrongdoing
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not speak first as he would have done on another occasion.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading He did not speak first as he would have done on another occasion.
a movement into or inward
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He did not speak first as he would have done on another occasion.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
having or given a form or shape
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He did not speak first as he would have done on another occasion.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
horse-shoe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
set afire or burning
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
the force of workers available
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not speak first as he would have done on another occasion.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading He did not speak first as he would have done on another occasion.
held or filled or in use
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He did not speak first as he would have done on another occasion.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Then they all rose and returned the salute.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Then they all rose and returned the salute.
saluteverbUS /səˈluːt/
propose a toast to
From this reading Then they all rose and returned the salute.
seatsnounUS /siːts/
an area that includes places where several people can sit
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
express in speech
From this reading He did not speak first as he would have done on another occasion.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TRIAL.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
theirspronounUS /ðerz/
the one or ones belonging to them
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then they all rose and returned the salute.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then they all rose and returned the salute.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
the act of testing something
From this reading THE TRIAL.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
which person or people
From this reading The parlor was well lighted, and Balsamo entering could see the grim air of the five men who kept their seats until he was before them and bowed.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He took an armchair facing theirs without appearing to remark that theirs formed a horse-shoe in front of his so that he occupied the place of the culprit at a trial.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He did not speak first as he would have done on another occasion.
