used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading They had grave matters to discuss and they had slipped away from their friends to be alone.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Billie and Elinor strolled together that evening along the palm-bordered walk of the hotel.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Billie and Elinor strolled together that evening along the palm-bordered walk of the hotel.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They had grave matters to discuss and they had slipped away from their friends to be alone.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They had grave matters to discuss and they had slipped away from their friends to be alone.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
a long seat for more than one person
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
Billie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billie and Elinor strolled together that evening along the palm-bordered walk of the hotel.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading "It is a queer business, Elinor," Billie was saying.
Charlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
discussverbUS /dɪˈskʌs/
to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading They had grave matters to discuss and they had slipped away from their friends to be alone.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "I do wish he had written."
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
Elinor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billie and Elinor strolled together that evening along the palm-bordered walk of the hotel.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Billie and Elinor strolled together that evening along the palm-bordered walk of the hotel.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading They had grave matters to discuss and they had slipped away from their friends to be alone.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They had grave matters to discuss and they had slipped away from their friends to be alone.
death of a person
From this reading They had grave matters to discuss and they had slipped away from their friends to be alone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had grave matters to discuss and they had slipped away from their friends to be alone.
HavennounUS /ˈheɪvən/
a shelter serving as a place of safety or sanctuary
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I do wish he had written."
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading Billie and Elinor strolled together that evening along the palm-bordered walk of the hotel.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I do wish he had written."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It is a queer business, Elinor," Billie was saying.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It is a queer business, Elinor," Billie was saying.
lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading They had grave matters to discuss and they had slipped away from their friends to be alone.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
NancynounUS /ˈnænsi/
a city in northeastern France in Lorraine
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Billie and Elinor strolled together that evening along the palm-bordered walk of the hotel.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
orchestranounUS /ˈɔːrkəstrə/
a musical organization consisting of a group of instrumentalists including string players
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
palm-bordered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billie and Elinor strolled together that evening along the palm-bordered walk of the hotel.
PercynounUS /ˈpɜːrsi/
United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
piazzanounUS /piˈæzə/
a public square with room for pedestrians
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading "It is a queer business, Elinor," Billie was saying.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading "It is a queer business, Elinor," Billie was saying.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading They had grave matters to discuss and they had slipped away from their friends to be alone.
strainsnounUS /streɪnz/
plural of “strain” — (physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
strolledverbUS /stroʊld/
past form of “stroll” — walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
From this reading Billie and Elinor strolled together that evening along the palm-bordered walk of the hotel.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Billie and Elinor strolled together that evening along the palm-bordered walk of the hotel.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Billie and Elinor strolled together that evening along the palm-bordered walk of the hotel.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had grave matters to discuss and they had slipped away from their friends to be alone.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had grave matters to discuss and they had slipped away from their friends to be alone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had grave matters to discuss and they had slipped away from their friends to be alone.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Billie and Elinor strolled together that evening along the palm-bordered walk of the hotel.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Billie and Elinor strolled together that evening along the palm-bordered walk of the hotel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It is a queer business, Elinor," Billie was saying.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading "I do wish he had written."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Percy and Nancy waited eagerly on the piazza for the first strains of the orchestra, which meant that dancing would begin, and Mary and Charlie lingered on a bench talking of West Haven.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading "I do wish he had written."
