used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading He was not accustomed to country hours, he said; he doubted if he ever should be.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
allusionnounUS /əˈluːʒən/
passing reference or indirect mention
From this reading He made no allusion whatever to his last night's quarrel, his manner was perfectly natural and easy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
any thing at all
From this reading If anything, there was a suggestion of bland patronage in his tone.
apologizedverbUS /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪzd/
past form of “apologize” — acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He was not accustomed to country hours, he said; he doubted if he ever should be.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
blandadjectiveUS /blænd/
lacking taste or flavor or tang
From this reading If anything, there was a suggestion of bland patronage in his tone.
breakfast-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
chiming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading He was not accustomed to country hours, he said; he doubted if he ever should be.
courtlyadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːrtli/
refined or imposing in manner or appearance; befitting a royal court
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
doubtedverbUS /ˈdaʊtɪd/
past form of “doubt” — consider unlikely or have doubts about
From this reading He was not accustomed to country hours, he said; he doubted if he ever should be.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading He made no allusion whatever to his last night's quarrel, his manner was perfectly natural and easy.
at any time
From this reading He was not accustomed to country hours, he said; he doubted if he ever should be.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading He was not accustomed to country hours, he said; he doubted if he ever should be.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He was not accustomed to country hours, he said; he doubted if he ever should be.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If anything, there was a suggestion of bland patronage in his tone.
immediately past
From this reading He made no allusion whatever to his last night's quarrel, his manner was perfectly natural and easy.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He made no allusion whatever to his last night's quarrel, his manner was perfectly natural and easy.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He made no allusion whatever to his last night's quarrel, his manner was perfectly natural and easy.
mantelpiecenoun
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading He made no allusion whatever to his last night's quarrel, his manner was perfectly natural and easy.
night'snounUS /naɪts/
possessive form of “night” — the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He made no allusion whatever to his last night's quarrel, his manner was perfectly natural and easy.
not any; not one
From this reading He made no allusion whatever to his last night's quarrel, his manner was perfectly natural and easy.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not accustomed to country hours, he said; he doubted if he ever should be.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
the act of departing politely
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
patronagenounUS /ˈpætrənɪdʒ/
the act of providing approval and support
From this reading If anything, there was a suggestion of bland patronage in his tone.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading He made no allusion whatever to his last night's quarrel, his manner was perfectly natural and easy.
punctualitynounUS /ˌpʌŋktʃuːˈælɪti/
the quality or habit of adhering to an appointed time
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
an angry dispute
From this reading He made no allusion whatever to his last night's quarrel, his manner was perfectly natural and easy.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He was not accustomed to country hours, he said; he doubted if he ever should be.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He was not accustomed to country hours, he said; he doubted if he ever should be.
term of address for a man
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
an idea that is suggested
From this reading If anything, there was a suggestion of bland patronage in his tone.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
in or at that place or location
From this reading If anything, there was a suggestion of bland patronage in his tone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading If anything, there was a suggestion of bland patronage in his tone.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE PARTING GUEST The big clock on the breakfast-room mantelpiece was chiming the hour of ten as Sir George came downstairs.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading He made no allusion whatever to his last night's quarrel, his manner was perfectly natural and easy.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was a little later than usual, and he apologized to his guest for his want of punctuality with a courtly air.
