used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
any person at all
From this reading Napier wondered drily that anybody should expect to get the stuff out of England.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
CabsnounUS /kæbz/
plural of “cab” — a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading "Cabs full of stuff keep coming," was the gentleman's _sotto voce_ comment.
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading "Cabs full of stuff keep coming," was the gentleman's _sotto voce_ comment.
commentnounUS /ˈkɑːment/
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading "Cabs full of stuff keep coming," was the gentleman's _sotto voce_ comment.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
drilyadverb
in a dry laconic manner
From this reading Napier wondered drily that anybody should expect to get the stuff out of England.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
EllisnounUS /ˈelɪs/
plural of “elli” — (Norse mythology) goddess of old age who defeated Thor in a wrestling match
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading Napier wondered drily that anybody should expect to get the stuff out of England.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading Napier wondered drily that anybody should expect to get the stuff out of England.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading "Cabs full of stuff keep coming," was the gentleman's _sotto voce_ comment.
a metric unit of weight equal to one thousandth of a kilogram
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
gentleman'snounUS /ˈdʒentəlmʌnz/
possessive form of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading "Cabs full of stuff keep coming," was the gentleman's _sotto voce_ comment.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Napier wondered drily that anybody should expect to get the stuff out of England.
a quick look
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
initialingverbUS /ˌɪˈnɪʃəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “initial” — mark with one's initials
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "Cabs full of stuff keep coming," was the gentleman's _sotto voce_ comment.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
NapiernounUS /ˈneɪpiər/
Scottish mathematician who invented logarithms; introduced the use of the decimal point in writing numbers (1550-1617)
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
the middle of the day
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Napier wondered drily that anybody should expect to get the stuff out of England.
outspreadadjective
fully extended in width
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
portersnounUS /ˈpɔːrtərz/
plural of “porter” — a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
RoyaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
service-lift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Napier wondered drily that anybody should expect to get the stuff out of England.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
Singleton'snounUS /ˈsɪŋɡəltənz/
possessive form of “singleton” — a single object (as distinguished from a pair)
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
sole-leather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
sotto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cabs full of stuff keep coming," was the gentleman's _sotto voce_ comment.
not in physical motion
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading "Cabs full of stuff keep coming," was the gentleman's _sotto voce_ comment.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
a unit of potential equal to the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated between the two points is 1 watt
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
voce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Cabs full of stuff keep coming," was the gentleman's _sotto voce_ comment.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading About noon the next day a couple of porters stood waiting for the service-lift at the Royal Palace hotel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading Each man had a sole-leather trunk on his shoulder, a trunk so new that the initialing "G. V. S." was still wet.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was something else which halted Napier in the act of sending up his card to Miss Ellis, a glimpse of Singleton's face behind an outspread newspaper.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Napier wondered drily that anybody should expect to get the stuff out of England.
