Chapter V · Chapter 5

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

later than; following

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading "As much as that?

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

the past participle of “be”

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

earlier than; in front of

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

lacking funds

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

a retail store that sells equipment and provisions (usually to military personnel)

From this reading "You had been here exactly three minutes," replied the Commissary of Police.

make a concoction (of) by mixing

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading "You had been here exactly three minutes," replied the Commissary of Police.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

express greetings upon meeting someone

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I should have thought less.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading "You had been here exactly three minutes," replied the Commissary of Police.

the activity of keeping something secret

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

of great significance or value

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading I should have thought less.

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 IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading "You had been here exactly three minutes," replied the Commissary of Police.

used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English “Mr”

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

to a great degree or extent

From this reading "As much as that?

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "You had been here exactly three minutes," replied the Commissary of Police.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

by chance

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

the force of policemen and officers

From this reading "You had been here exactly three minutes," replied the Commissary of Police.

on the contrary

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "You had been here exactly three minutes," replied the Commissary of Police.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

in an impolite manner

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

express in words

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading I should have thought less.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

not in physical motion

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "As much as that?

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading "You had been here exactly three minutes," replied the Commissary of Police.

a special situation

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading I should have thought less.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading "You had been here exactly three minutes," replied the Commissary of Police.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

a formal word for “on”

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

used to ask for information about something

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

during the time that

From this reading We had to greet each other, after having been parted for many months; and still, in the three minutes, you believe that we had time to concoct a plot of some sort, and to find some safe corner--all the while in semi-darkness--for the hiding of a thing important to the police--a bomb, perhaps?

in the company of; together with

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading IVOR DOES WHAT HE CAN FOR MAXINE "How long a time do you think I had been in this room, Monsieur," she asked, "before you--rather rudely, I must say--broke in upon my conversation with my friend?"