used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading What a toff!” was his wife’s greeting.
amiablyadverbUS /ˈeɪmiəbli/
in an affable manner
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
a flexible container with a single opening
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
a man of refinement
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading What a toff!” was his wife’s greeting.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
only a very short time before
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
HOBBSnounUS /hɑːbz/
notable English cricketer (1882-1963)
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
a form of address for a man
From this reading MR.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My word!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
having official authority or sanction
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
and nothing more
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
prawnsnounUS /prɔːnz/
plural of “prawn” — any of various edible decapod crustaceans
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
quartnounUS /kwɔːrt/
a United States liquid unit equal to 32 fluid ounces; four quarts equal one gallon
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
sprucenounUS /spruːs/
light soft moderately strong wood of spruce trees; used especially for timbers and millwork
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
tail-pocket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
toffnounUS /tɔːf/
informal term for an upper-class or wealthy person
From this reading What a toff!” was his wife’s greeting.
male cat
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What a toff!” was his wife’s greeting.
well-dressedadjective
having tasteful clothing and being scrupulously neat
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What a toff!” was his wife’s greeting.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
which person or people
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
wife'snounUS /waɪfs/
possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading What a toff!” was his wife’s greeting.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But Tom smiled amiably, and produced from his tail-pocket a paper bag with a quart of his favourite prawns, which he proceeded to empty on to a plate on the table.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading “My word!
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading HOBBS AT TEA THOSE who had only seen P.-C. Hobbs in his official uniform would hardly have recognized the spruce and well-dressed gentleman, as he turned into the side entrance of his house to tea.
