used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading The reporter accepted the invitation with alacrity.
alacritynounUS /əˈlækrəti/
liveliness and eagerness
From this reading The reporter accepted the invitation with alacrity.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When Gale returned to the embassy he found an invitation to the dinner awaiting him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As a rule, he was not fond of formal dinners.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
playing or singing with instrumental or vocal accompaniment
From this reading In the course of his reportorial experience he had attended many of them in an official capacity, and he had come to regard such functions as decidedly boresome.
awaitingverbUS /əˈweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading When Gale returned to the embassy he found an invitation to the dinner awaiting him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
boresome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of his reportorial experience he had attended many of them in an official capacity, and he had come to regard such functions as decidedly boresome.
capacitynounUS /kəˈpæsəti/
capability to perform or produce
From this reading In the course of his reportorial experience he had attended many of them in an official capacity, and he had come to regard such functions as decidedly boresome.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading In the course of his reportorial experience he had attended many of them in an official capacity, and he had come to regard such functions as decidedly boresome.
an officer in command of a military unit
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
Cortrell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading In the course of his reportorial experience he had attended many of them in an official capacity, and he had come to regard such functions as decidedly boresome.
decidedlyadverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdədli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading In the course of his reportorial experience he had attended many of them in an official capacity, and he had come to regard such functions as decidedly boresome.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading When Gale returned to the embassy he found an invitation to the dinner awaiting him.
dinnersnounUS /ˈdɪnərz/
plural of “dinner” — the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading As a rule, he was not fond of formal dinners.
embassynounUS /ˈembəsi/
a diplomatic building where ambassadors live or work
From this reading When Gale returned to the embassy he found an invitation to the dinner awaiting him.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading In the course of his reportorial experience he had attended many of them in an official capacity, and he had come to regard such functions as decidedly boresome.
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading As a rule, he was not fond of formal dinners.
formaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/
being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
From this reading As a rule, he was not fond of formal dinners.
set up or found
From this reading When Gale returned to the embassy he found an invitation to the dinner awaiting him.
functionsnounUS /ˈfʌŋkʃənz/
plural of “function” — (mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)
From this reading In the course of his reportorial experience he had attended many of them in an official capacity, and he had come to regard such functions as decidedly boresome.
GalenounUS /ɡeɪl/
a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
From this reading When Gale returned to the embassy he found an invitation to the dinner awaiting him.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Gale returned to the embassy he found an invitation to the dinner awaiting him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Gale returned to the embassy he found an invitation to the dinner awaiting him.
an indirect suggestion
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the course of his reportorial experience he had attended many of them in an official capacity, and he had come to regard such functions as decidedly boresome.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading When Gale returned to the embassy he found an invitation to the dinner awaiting him.
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 In the course of his reportorial experience he had attended many of them in an official capacity, and he had come to regard such functions as decidedly boresome.
past form of “mention” — make reference to
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As a rule, he was not fond of formal dinners.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
having official authority or sanction
From this reading In the course of his reportorial experience he had attended many of them in an official capacity, and he had come to regard such functions as decidedly boresome.
promptverbUS /prɑːmpt/
give an incentive for action
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading In the course of his reportorial experience he had attended many of them in an official capacity, and he had come to regard such functions as decidedly boresome.
reporternounUS /rɪˈpɔːrtər/
a person who investigates and reports or edits news stories
From this reading The reporter accepted the invitation with alacrity.
reportorial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the course of his reportorial experience he had attended many of them in an official capacity, and he had come to regard such functions as decidedly boresome.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading When Gale returned to the embassy he found an invitation to the dinner awaiting him.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading As a rule, he was not fond of formal dinners.
fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading In the course of his reportorial experience he had attended many of them in an official capacity, and he had come to regard such functions as decidedly boresome.
carry out
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Gale returned to the embassy he found an invitation to the dinner awaiting him.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In the course of his reportorial experience he had attended many of them in an official capacity, and he had come to regard such functions as decidedly boresome.
Throgmorton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Gale returned to the embassy he found an invitation to the dinner awaiting him.
warshipnounUS /ˈwɔːrʃɪp/
a government ship that is available for waging war
From this reading Minister Throgmorton had mentioned to Captain Cortrell that he had a guest stopping at his home, and the commander of the warship had been prompt to take the hint.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As a rule, he was not fond of formal dinners.
at the time that
From this reading When Gale returned to the embassy he found an invitation to the dinner awaiting him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The reporter accepted the invitation with alacrity.
