used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "That is old Brooks," he said, pointing to one of the photographs, "Millionaire Brooks, as he was called, and these are his two sons, Percival and Murray.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Polly guessed that some of these would presently be placed before her for inspection--and she had not long to wait.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Polly guessed that some of these would presently be placed before her for inspection--and she had not long to wait.
BrooksnounUS /brʊks/
United States literary critic and historian (1886-1963)
From this reading "That is old Brooks," he said, pointing to one of the photographs, "Millionaire Brooks, as he was called, and these are his two sons, Percival and Murray.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "That is old Brooks," he said, pointing to one of the photographs, "Millionaire Brooks, as he was called, and these are his two sons, Percival and Murray.
an occurrence of something
From this reading It was a curious case, wasn't it?
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading It was a curious case, wasn't it?
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
DUBLINnounUS /ˈdʌblɪn/
capital and largest city and major port of the Irish Republic
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
forgedadjectiveUS /fɔːrdʒd/
reproduced fraudulently
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading Polly guessed that some of these would presently be placed before her for inspection--and she had not long to wait.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Polly guessed that some of these would presently be placed before her for inspection--and she had not long to wait.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
inspectionnounUS /ˌɪnˈspekʃən/
a formal or official examination
From this reading Polly guessed that some of these would presently be placed before her for inspection--and she had not long to wait.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "That is old Brooks," he said, pointing to one of the photographs, "Millionaire Brooks, as he was called, and these are his two sons, Percival and Murray.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a curious case, wasn't it?
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Polly guessed that some of these would presently be placed before her for inspection--and she had not long to wait.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
meditativelyadverb
in a meditative manner
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
MillionairenounUS /ˌmɪljəˈner/
a person whose material wealth is valued at more than a million dollars
From this reading "That is old Brooks," he said, pointing to one of the photographs, "Millionaire Brooks, as he was called, and these are his two sons, Percival and Murray.
MurraynounUS /ˈmɜːri/
British classical scholar (born in Australia) who advocated the League of Nations and the United Nations (1866-1957)
From this reading "That is old Brooks," he said, pointing to one of the photographs, "Millionaire Brooks, as he was called, and these are his two sons, Percival and Murray.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Polly guessed that some of these would presently be placed before her for inspection--and she had not long to wait.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "That is old Brooks," he said, pointing to one of the photographs, "Millionaire Brooks, as he was called, and these are his two sons, Percival and Murray.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "That is old Brooks," he said, pointing to one of the photographs, "Millionaire Brooks, as he was called, and these are his two sons, Percival and Murray.
packetnounUS /ˈpækət/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
Percival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That is old Brooks," he said, pointing to one of the photographs, "Millionaire Brooks, as he was called, and these are his two sons, Percival and Murray.
photographsnounUS /ˈfoʊtəɡræfs/
plural of “photograph” — a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide or in digital format
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Polly guessed that some of these would presently be placed before her for inspection--and she had not long to wait.
pocket-book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading "That is old Brooks," he said, pointing to one of the photographs, "Millionaire Brooks, as he was called, and these are his two sons, Percival and Murray.
Polly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly guessed that some of these would presently be placed before her for inspection--and she had not long to wait.
in the near future
From this reading Polly guessed that some of these would presently be placed before her for inspection--and she had not long to wait.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Polly guessed that some of these would presently be placed before her for inspection--and she had not long to wait.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading "That is old Brooks," he said, pointing to one of the photographs, "Millionaire Brooks, as he was called, and these are his two sons, Percival and Murray.
sortingnounUS /ˈsɔːrtɪŋ/
an operation that segregates items into groups according to a specified criterion
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Polly guessed that some of these would presently be placed before her for inspection--and she had not long to wait.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He had been silent for some time, and was meditatively sorting and looking through a packet of small photographs in his pocket-book.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Polly guessed that some of these would presently be placed before her for inspection--and she had not long to wait.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "That is old Brooks," he said, pointing to one of the photographs, "Millionaire Brooks, as he was called, and these are his two sons, Percival and Murray.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Polly guessed that some of these would presently be placed before her for inspection--and she had not long to wait.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a curious case, wasn't it?
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading THE DUBLIN MYSTERY "I always thought that the history of that forged will was about as interesting as any I had read," said the man in the corner that day.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Polly guessed that some of these would presently be placed before her for inspection--and she had not long to wait.
