used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
(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 The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
Basingford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
beamsnounUS /biːmz/
plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
bedsnounUS /bedz/
plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Everything was clean, the brick-floored passages, the chintz curtains at the windows, the oak stairs, the white coverlets on the solid mahogany beds.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A big grandfather clock tick-tocked in the main passage.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
BoarnounUS /bɔːr/
Old World wild swine having a narrow body and prominent tusks from which most domestic swine come; introduced in United States
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
bracketnounUS /ˈbrækɪt/
a category falling within certain defined limits
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
brick-floored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything was clean, the brick-floored passages, the chintz curtains at the windows, the oak stairs, the white coverlets on the solid mahogany beds.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
chintznoun
a brightly printed and glazed cotton fabric
From this reading Everything was clean, the brick-floored passages, the chintz curtains at the windows, the oak stairs, the white coverlets on the solid mahogany beds.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading Everything was clean, the brick-floored passages, the chintz curtains at the windows, the oak stairs, the white coverlets on the solid mahogany beds.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading A big grandfather clock tick-tocked in the main passage.
coverlets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything was clean, the brick-floored passages, the chintz curtains at the windows, the oak stairs, the white coverlets on the solid mahogany beds.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Everything was clean, the brick-floored passages, the chintz curtains at the windows, the oak stairs, the white coverlets on the solid mahogany beds.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything was clean, the brick-floored passages, the chintz curtains at the windows, the oak stairs, the white coverlets on the solid mahogany beds.
farmhousenounUS /ˈfɑːrmhaʊs/
house for a farmer and family
From this reading It had the pleasant smell of a farmhouse rather than the sour odour of an inn.
set up or found
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading A big grandfather clock tick-tocked in the main passage.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had the pleasant smell of a farmhouse rather than the sour odour of an inn.
hostelrynoun
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading It had the pleasant smell of a farmhouse rather than the sour odour of an inn.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had the pleasant smell of a farmhouse rather than the sour odour of an inn.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
LYNETTE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
mahoganynounUS /məˈhɑːɡəni/
wood of any of various mahogany trees; much used for cabinetwork and furniture
From this reading Everything was clean, the brick-floored passages, the chintz curtains at the windows, the oak stairs, the white coverlets on the solid mahogany beds.
most important element
From this reading A big grandfather clock tick-tocked in the main passage.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading Everything was clean, the brick-floored passages, the chintz curtains at the windows, the oak stairs, the white coverlets on the solid mahogany beds.
odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading It had the pleasant smell of a farmhouse rather than the sour odour of an inn.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading A big grandfather clock tick-tocked in the main passage.
passagesnounUS /ˈpæsədʒəz/
plural of “passage” — the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading Everything was clean, the brick-floored passages, the chintz curtains at the windows, the oak stairs, the white coverlets on the solid mahogany beds.
pewternounUS /ˈpjuːtər/
any of various alloys of tin with small amounts of other metals (especially lead)
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
plasterverbUS /ˈplæstər/
apply a heavy coat to
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading It had the pleasant smell of a farmhouse rather than the sour odour of an inn.
on the contrary
From this reading It had the pleasant smell of a farmhouse rather than the sour odour of an inn.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading It had the pleasant smell of a farmhouse rather than the sour odour of an inn.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading Everything was clean, the brick-floored passages, the chintz curtains at the windows, the oak stairs, the white coverlets on the solid mahogany beds.
sourverbUS /ˈsaʊər/
go sour or spoil
From this reading It had the pleasant smell of a farmhouse rather than the sour odour of an inn.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Everything was clean, the brick-floored passages, the chintz curtains at the windows, the oak stairs, the white coverlets on the solid mahogany beds.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It had the pleasant smell of a farmhouse rather than the sour odour of an inn.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
tick-tocked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A big grandfather clock tick-tocked in the main passage.
tilesnounUS /taɪlz/
plural of “tile” — a flat thin rectangular slab (as of fired clay or rubber or linoleum) used to cover surfaces
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading LYNETTE They found themselves at the “Black Boar” at Basingford, sitting round a green table under a may tree in the garden.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
a Caucasian
From this reading The “Black Boar” was an ancient hostelry, all white plaster, black beams, and brown tiles, its sign swinging on a great carved bracket, its parlour full of pewter and brass.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Everything was clean, the brick-floored passages, the chintz curtains at the windows, the oak stairs, the white coverlets on the solid mahogany beds.
