used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
assignedadjectiveUS /əˈsaɪnd/
appointed to a post or duty
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
for the reason that
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
breakfasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Midway through the meal Burton, the porter at Lavery's, tapped at the door and brought in the letters and the _Daily Telegraph_.
BurtonnounUS /ˈbɜːrtən/
English explorer who with John Speke was the first European to explore Lake Tanganyika (1821-1890)
From this reading Midway through the meal Burton, the porter at Lavery's, tapped at the door and brought in the letters and the _Daily Telegraph_.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
coffee-pot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room in which they breakfasted overlooked the main quadrangle; the silver coffee-pot on the table shimmered in the rays of the late summer sun.
CornwallnounUS /ˈkɔːrnwɔːl/
a hilly county in southwestern England
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading Midway through the meal Burton, the porter at Lavery's, tapped at the door and brought in the letters and the _Daily Telegraph_.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Midway through the meal Burton, the porter at Lavery's, tapped at the door and brought in the letters and the _Daily Telegraph_.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
first-floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
Hullonoun
an expression of greeting
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
inaptly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading The room in which they breakfasted overlooked the main quadrangle; the silver coffee-pot on the table shimmered in the rays of the late summer sun.
Lavery's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
the literary culture
From this reading Midway through the meal Burton, the porter at Lavery's, tapped at the door and brought in the letters and the _Daily Telegraph_.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
most important element
From this reading The room in which they breakfasted overlooked the main quadrangle; the silver coffee-pot on the table shimmered in the rays of the late summer sun.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading Midway through the meal Burton, the porter at Lavery's, tapped at the door and brought in the letters and the _Daily Telegraph_.
MidwayadjectiveUS /ˈmɪdweɪ/
equally distant from the extremes
From this reading Midway through the meal Burton, the porter at Lavery's, tapped at the door and brought in the letters and the _Daily Telegraph_.
month'snounUS /mʌnθs/
possessive form of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The room in which they breakfasted overlooked the main quadrangle; the silver coffee-pot on the table shimmered in the rays of the late summer sun.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
overlookedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkt/
not taken into account
From this reading The room in which they breakfasted overlooked the main quadrangle; the silver coffee-pot on the table shimmered in the rays of the late summer sun.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
porternounUS /ˈpɔːrtər/
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading Midway through the meal Burton, the porter at Lavery's, tapped at the door and brought in the letters and the _Daily Telegraph_.
quadranglenoun
a four-sided polygon
From this reading The room in which they breakfasted overlooked the main quadrangle; the silver coffee-pot on the table shimmered in the rays of the late summer sun.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading The room in which they breakfasted overlooked the main quadrangle; the silver coffee-pot on the table shimmered in the rays of the late summer sun.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room in which they breakfasted overlooked the main quadrangle; the silver coffee-pot on the table shimmered in the rays of the late summer sun.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
self-consciouslyadverb
in an uncomfortably self-conscious manner
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
shimmeredverbUS /ˈʃɪmərd/
past form of “shimmer” — shine with a weak or fitful light
From this reading The room in which they breakfasted overlooked the main quadrangle; the silver coffee-pot on the table shimmered in the rays of the late summer sun.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading The room in which they breakfasted overlooked the main quadrangle; the silver coffee-pot on the table shimmered in the rays of the late summer sun.
move hurridly
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The room in which they breakfasted overlooked the main quadrangle; the silver coffee-pot on the table shimmered in the rays of the late summer sun.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The room in which they breakfasted overlooked the main quadrangle; the silver coffee-pot on the table shimmered in the rays of the late summer sun.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The room in which they breakfasted overlooked the main quadrangle; the silver coffee-pot on the table shimmered in the rays of the late summer sun.
tappedadjectiveUS /tæpt/
in a condition for letting out liquid drawn out as by piercing or drawing a plug
From this reading Midway through the meal Burton, the porter at Lavery's, tapped at the door and brought in the letters and the _Daily Telegraph_.
TelegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading Midway through the meal Burton, the porter at Lavery's, tapped at the door and brought in the letters and the _Daily Telegraph_.
a word or expression used for some particular thing
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Midway through the meal Burton, the porter at Lavery's, tapped at the door and brought in the letters and the _Daily Telegraph_.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Speed said: "Hullo, that's luck!--I was thinking I should have to run down the town to get my paper this morning."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They had returned the evening before from a month's holiday in Cornwall and now they were making themselves a little self-consciously at home in the first-floor rooms that had been assigned to them in Lavery's.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The room in which they breakfasted overlooked the main quadrangle; the silver coffee-pot on the table shimmered in the rays of the late summer sun.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE WINTER TERM CHAPTER ONE I He breakfasted with Helen upon the first morning of the winter term, inaptly named because winter does not begin until the term is over.
