used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
amazingadjectiveUS /əˈmeɪzɪŋ/
surprising greatly
From this reading I read of his wit and learning, his amazing connoisseurship, his social gifts, his personal charm.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was an obituary in "leader" type of nearly two columns.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
AndrewnounUS /ˈændruː/
(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; brother of Peter; patron saint of Scotland
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
any thing at all
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading I read of his wit and learning, his amazing connoisseurship, his social gifts, his personal charm.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
columnsnounUS /ˈkɑːləmz/
plural of “column” — a line of units following one after another
From this reading There was an obituary in "leader" type of nearly two columns.
connoisseurshipnoun
love of or taste for fine objects of art
From this reading I read of his wit and learning, his amazing connoisseurship, his social gifts, his personal charm.
coterienounUS /ˈkoʊtəri/
an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
entertainingadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnɪŋ/
agreeably diverting
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
an act that fails
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
GEESEnounUS /ɡiːs/
plural of “goose” — web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading I read of his wit and learning, his amazing connoisseurship, his social gifts, his personal charm.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I read of his wit and learning, his amazing connoisseurship, his social gifts, his personal charm.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
a person who rules or guides or inspires others
From this reading There was an obituary in "leader" type of nearly two columns.
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading I read of his wit and learning, his amazing connoisseurship, his social gifts, his personal charm.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
Lumley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading There was an obituary in "leader" type of nearly two columns.
information about recent and important events
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
newspapersnounUS /ˈnuːzpeɪpərz/
plural of “newspaper” — a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
obituarynounUS /oʊˈbɪtʃuːeri/
a notice of someone's death; usually includes a short biography
From this reading There was an obituary in "leader" type of nearly two columns.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading I read of his wit and learning, his amazing connoisseurship, his social gifts, his personal charm.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
seventyadjectiveUS /ˈsevənti/
being ten more than sixty
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading I read of his wit and learning, his amazing connoisseurship, his social gifts, his personal charm.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was an obituary in "leader" type of nearly two columns.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There was an obituary in "leader" type of nearly two columns.
a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading There was an obituary in "leader" type of nearly two columns.
unawaresadverbUS /ˌʌnəˈwerz/
without forethought or plan; inadvertently
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
which person or people
From this reading He had been older than I thought--close on seventy--and _The Times_ spoke of him as a man who might have done anything he pleased in public life, but had chosen to give to a small coterie of friends what was due to the country.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading RETURN OF THE WILD GEESE I do not think I was surprised at the news I read in _The Times_ next morning.
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading I read of his wit and learning, his amazing connoisseurship, his social gifts, his personal charm.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading Mr. Andrew Lumley had died suddenly in the night of heart failure, and the newspapers woke up to the fact that we had been entertaining a great man unawares.
